Wiretap Ruling Threatens Telecoms 501
ches_grin writes "Yesterday's ruling on the NSA warrantless wiretapping program could mean that businesses that assisted in the program are in for some serious legal problems. The judge's decision clearly dismissed out of hand the arguments of the telecoms, saying that the protections due journalists and lawyers was a clear matter of the public's best interests." From the article: "Businesses accused of aiding the Bush administration in wiretapping could also be in for a legal bruising, say civil liberties groups that have sued telecom providers AT&T, Verizon, and BellSouth for allegedly helping the NSA. The ruling could set a precedent other courts can't ignore. 'Every phone company that is assisting the government in its illegal surveillance would want to think long and hard before it continues that agreement,' says Ann Beeson, the ACLU's lead attorney in the case. 'There are already lawsuits claiming that their cooperation for the past several years is illegal and now that the judge has declared it is illegal, their liability increases. The risk is much greater from a business perspective.'"
"Threatens telecoms"? Two words. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:What a Novel Concept! (Score:5, Funny)
"Everyone screams that they want a government that listens to its people. We did that, and then y'all turn around and ask the us to stop listening. What gives? Make up your minds, or maybe it's time for us to just dissolve the people and elected a new one!"
- Your Government
Re:I think it will start a bad presidence. (Score:1, Funny)
Qwest did, in fact, tell the NSA that they would not cooperate. If it was possible, I would switch my phone service to them in a heartbeat. But I live within the goegraphical monopoly that is SBC (new AT&T), so I have no choice.
BTW, new byline for AT&T: Your World, Delivered (To The NSA)
Re:What a Novel Concept! (Score:5, Funny)
Exactly. Nixon was illegally wiretapping to save us from the democrats! The democrats!!! You remember the democrats, don't you?
Re:Extremely OT (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What a Novel Concept! (Score:3, Funny)
Ummm no.
Re:What a Novel Concept! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Uh, no. Nixon's administration did more than th (Score:3, Funny)