AT&T Seeks to Hide Spy Docs

UltimaGuy writes to mention a Wired article about some AT&T documents that have gone off the farm. An ex-employee provided some information to the EFF, to assist in their wiretapping case against the company. Ma Bell is now arguing the files are confidential, and shouldn't be used in a court case. From the article: "The documents, which the EFF filed under a temporary seal last Wednesday, purportedly detail how AT&T diverts internet traffic to the National Security Agency via a secret room in San Francisco and allege that such rooms exist in other AT&T switching centers."

Solution: Philip Zimmermann's Zfone

[eldavojohn]

You may recall that Philip Zimmermann was the subject of a criminal investigation over ten years ago over a little asymmetric key encryption program he wrote and made available online.

Recently, he has worked to give the world a very simple program that will encrypt voice communications for any SIP VoIP. It's called Zfone [philzimmermann.com] and this news about AT&T working with the NSA covertly is all the more reason you should use it.

I believe Slashdot covered [slashdot.org] Zfone's release a month ago.

As an American, I value my anonymity and ability to communicate without concern of eaves dropping very highly. I hope to see some VoIP services possibly use Zfone or some level of encryption as a default out of the box feature in the future. If you're concerned for your privacy, read up on Zfone and find out how easy it is to use!

Re:no fourth amendment protections here.

[Anonymous Coward]

It'd take somebody in the administration classifying them to make them officially restricted.

And we all know how this administration loathes secrecy.

Re:National security to the rescue

[Zephyros]

Secrecy Power Sinks Patent Case [wired.com]

Re:Doesn't help fight terrorism

[WindBourne]

Actually, all RBOCS have those. They are known (not well-known, but known) by those that work at the RBOCS. What you described was a federal or black room. That is where the feds do the taps. All of these are suppose to be LEGAL wiretaps. From what I have heard, several people go in together and verify who is being tapped. (I worked one floor up from the black room in one of my stints for USWest).

The NSA taps are not being taken from these rooms. They are taken elsewhere.