Published: Thursday, October 4, 2007
Congress questions telecoms on privacy
The House is reluctant to grant retroactive immunity in wiretapping cases.
WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — Key Democratic lawmakers are pressing telephone companies to disclose how they shared Americans' calling and Internet data with the government, part of an inquiry into domestic surveillance efforts such as the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the telecom industry, this week sent letters to three major carriers, AT&T, Qwest and Verizon, posing questions aimed at understanding what consumer information is being shared with the government.
"Congress has a duty to inquire about whether [the government surveillance program] violates the Constitution, as well as consumer protection and privacy laws," said Chairman John D. Dingell, D-Mich.
Last month, committee member Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., who has pressed the Federal Communications Commission on the matter for more than a year, urged FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin to open an inquiry into allegations that the telecoms illegally disclosed customer records by cooperating with intelligence agency requests for data.
"As reports about government intelligence agencies running roughshod over telecommunications privacy laws continue to surface," Markey said, "I have grown more and more concerned that the rights of consumers are being lost in the shuffle."
What's behind this
The moves come as the Bush administration is pushing Congress to grant telecoms immunity in lawsuits charging them with invading Americans' privacy by aiding the government's post-Sept. 11 counterterrorism program.
Although Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee have said there is consensus that the companies should have some form of relief, House Democrats have voiced a reluctance even to consider retroactive immunity at least until they have an understanding of the program that the telecoms are charged with aiding. The administration has resisted subpoenas for such information.
Qwest declined to comment on the letter or the immunity legislation. Verizon spokesman Peter Thonis said, "We'll be responding as best we can to the letter." Claudia Jones of AT&T said the company is committed to protecting customers' privacy.
The letters sent by Dingell, Markey and Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., are based on revelations over the past year or so about the government's collection of customer data in apparent violation of privacy and other laws. In May 2006, USA Today and other media reported that AT&T, BellSouth (now part of AT&T) and Verizon provided the NSA with access to customer phone records without the customers' knowledge or consent. Qwest declined to participate, the letter noted.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The House is reluctant to grant retroactive immunity in wiretapping cases.
WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — Key Democratic lawmakers are pressing telephone companies to disclose how they shared Americans' calling and Internet data with the government, part of an inquiry into domestic surveillance efforts such as the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the telecom industry, this week sent letters to three major carriers, AT&T, Qwest and Verizon, posing questions aimed at understanding what consumer information is being shared with the government.
"Congress has a duty to inquire about whether [the government surveillance program] violates the Constitution, as well as consumer protection and privacy laws," said Chairman John D. Dingell, D-Mich.
Last month, committee member Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., who has pressed the Federal Communications Commission on the matter for more than a year, urged FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin to open an inquiry into allegations that the telecoms illegally disclosed customer records by cooperating with intelligence agency requests for data.
"As reports about government intelligence agencies running roughshod over telecommunications privacy laws continue to surface," Markey said, "I have grown more and more concerned that the rights of consumers are being lost in the shuffle."
What's behind this
The moves come as the Bush administration is pushing Congress to grant telecoms immunity in lawsuits charging them with invading Americans' privacy by aiding the government's post-Sept. 11 counterterrorism program.
Although Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee have said there is consensus that the companies should have some form of relief, House Democrats have voiced a reluctance even to consider retroactive immunity at least until they have an understanding of the program that the telecoms are charged with aiding. The administration has resisted subpoenas for such information.
Qwest declined to comment on the letter or the immunity legislation. Verizon spokesman Peter Thonis said, "We'll be responding as best we can to the letter." Claudia Jones of AT&T said the company is committed to protecting customers' privacy.
The letters sent by Dingell, Markey and Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., are based on revelations over the past year or so about the government's collection of customer data in apparent violation of privacy and other laws. In May 2006, USA Today and other media reported that AT&T, BellSouth (now part of AT&T) and Verizon provided the NSA with access to customer phone records without the customers' knowledge or consent. Qwest declined to participate, the letter noted.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Key Democratic lawmakers are pressing telephone companies to disclose how they shared Americans' calling and Internet...
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