Slashdot Mirror
EFF Sues AT&T Over NSA Wiretapping
Omega1045 writes "Cory Doctorow over at BoingBoing is reporting that the Electronic Frontier Foundation has just filed a lawsuit against AT&T for helping the National Security Agency execute illegal warrant-less wiretaps against American citizens.
From the article: 'The lawsuits alleges that AT&T Corp. has opened its key telecommunications facilities and databases to direct access by the NSA and/or other government agencies, thereby disclosing to the government the contents of its customers' communications as well as detailed communications records about millions of its customers, including the lawsuit's class members.'"
I think the only way the EFF can when this is to prove that AT&T is their long distance carrier and that the NSA was sniffing their traffic. The first part should be easy but the second part might be more difficult. If the NSA was smart, all the EFF traffic would've been sent straight to the bit bucket for wasting bandwidth.
This issue is ridiculous. The government has always had the authority to monitor international communications without a warrant. Bush didn't make up that power. It just happened that in the past those communications were generally broadcast radio transmisisons and not internet or telephone communications. The power hasn't changed, only the technology. Also, the communications in question are phone calls originating overseas by known Al Qaeda members. If the NSA wasn't monitoring those conversations, it would be gross negligance and they would be ignoring their duty to the country. I would probably agree that there should be oversight on this program to make sure there are no abuses, however I would strongly disagree that it should be stopped.
EFF is on the wrong side here. It is like they are turning into the ACLU.
My other first post is car post.
We tried that. 1939. Didn't turn out so well.
And this is coming from me as a libertarian who agrees we should not be so entrenched overseas... but there are places where our nose does belong. Iran is probably trying to create nuclear weapons. Their public policy is that Israel should be blown off the face of the Earth. Is it OK for us to intervene now?
first, we helped create the situation in 39 with the punative versailles treaty. If the west had not destroyed
gernmany's economy hitler probably would not have come to power.
Second regarding Iran. The first big case of blowback. The CIA supported a coup against
the first democratically elected government in iran in 1953.
I think their public policy stems from that, our support of the shah, and our unquestioning support of israel.
isn't it interesting that israel has nuclear weapons, but isn't brought up to the security council for it?
But I think you're implying that it's OK for Osama bin Laden to kill 3000 innocent Americans because the US had bases in Saudi Arabia. Is that what you're saying? Because that was the main reason Osama was supposedly pissed at us. Then Saddam Hussein attacked Kuwait and we went to war to push him back, and then Osama said he was mad because Iraqi children died then and in the aftermath. Did he blame Saddam? A little, but mostly us.
Nope I'm saying nothing of the sort. I am saying you reap what you sow.
The freaking CIA helped create Osama.
Then Saddam Hussein attacked Kuwait and we went to war to push him back
Yeah, after this guy went to see him while he was gassing people with our knowledge, and after the reagan administration gave iraq the bio weapon starter kits and after our ambassador told saddam we had no interest defending kuwait
So yeah, there is no rhyme or reason to terrorism. There is no cause and effect relationship between our foreign policy and terrorism. Our government is lilly white, and bears no blame for its actions. Am I excusing the terrorists? No. I am saying there is only ONE way to win, leave them alone to govern their own affairs. We taught the british that in 1776, the french learned it in algeria and indochina, (we got the same lesson in indochina but it didn't stick)
Service guarantees Citizenship! Questions Guarantee GITMO.... Amerika Uber Alles!
as if there is anyone that has not heard about it yet, including the terrorists who were being tapped that have since found other means of communication.
thank you New York Times...
You may be able to speak out against the government here in the US but the fear of retribution is every bit as real here as it is anywhere else. In any documented forum the sheer number of the AC attacks lined against me, coupled with their particular form of sneering and hate, could probably be enough to file a lawsuit of harassment.
fast as fast can be. you'll never catch me.