http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060217/eavesdropping_verizon.html?.v=2 Friday February 17, 5:06 pm ET Verizon Communications Sued for Allegedly Collaborating With U.S. Wiretapping Operations NEW YORK (AP) -- An attorney and entrepreneur has filed a lawsuit against Verizon Communications Inc. alleging it has illegally collaborated with the National Security Agency's wiretapping operations. The suit by Michael Pascazi of Fishkill, N.Y., seeks to represent millions of Verizon customers in a class action. It seeks $20 billion in damages for alleged violations of customer privacy by a warrantless government wiretapping program. Randal Milch, Verizon's senior vice president of legal and external affairs, called the lawsuit "completely without merit." The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in New York. AT&T Inc. was sued Jan. 31 by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil-liberties group, over the same wiretapping program. That suit also sought billions of dollars in damages. AT&T did not comment on the suit. Pascazi was previously president of Fiber Optek Interconnect Corp., a private firm that built fiber-optic lines for carriers. It once proposed a bankruptcy reorganization plan for Global Crossing, an international fiber-optic carrier. Fiber Optek is now defunct. Pascazi said he has started a biotechnology company in addition to practicing law.
It will be interesting to see how both of these case's go in the future, that's alot of money and I would like to know if it was/is true, not that I have anything to hide, but don't like the whole big brother can do what they want. Thanks for the article YourDaddy
Listen, they can tap anything they want in the name of Freedom, to prevent dumb a-- Jihad maniacs from flying Boeing Gas Bombs into buildings where I grew up. TAP AWAY G-Men. Listen to me, my family, my friends, and all the Mohammed Atta's of the world planning on carrying out their missions of hate!
You know I think that if this is by chance helping out with terroism then for hell sakes let them tap some phone lines. Besides what is the big deal with listening to somones conversation it is like everyone has something to hide.
I say no to arbitrary tapping, although I think it will happen anyway. It may be inadmissable, but heard nontheless. I am prepared to maybe die in a terrorist attack rather than compromise our fundamental beliefs. Some of our freedoms are absolute - and they are not free - even to ordinary citizens.
I think the situation is not if they can or can't tap and listen to any conversation in the name of freedom. The situation is that it should be done following the due process of law. The news sourse says: Verizon Communications has illegally collaborated with the National Security Agency's wiretapping operations. :nono: There is a legal process to wire tap communications and protect the people from real threats. There is no secret that all communication companies has illegally collaborated with agencies for decades. So they must be treated like any citizen, you broke the law you pay the consequences. :thumbsdow
The situation that I find amusing about the general 'wire tapping' story (which is larger than this Verizon lawsuit) is this: No democrat or republican senator or congressman is really concerned or complained about the wire tapping by itself. They are only upset that the secret court (for wiretapping ) was not consulted, even though Bush did consult with various senators for over 1 year. This secret court is just that: we don't know who is on it and they don't publish there opinion. We never knew it even existed and the NSA/Gov't only need consult this court after the fact of wiretapping AND this court almost never refuses a wire tap! So what's the point? Yes, the rules of this type of wiretapping were not strictly followed, but the end result would be the same...those individuals would have been tapped anyhow. And BTW, most of the persons tapped, were not US citizens, just persons residing in our country making overseas contacts. This story, IMO, has gotten bigger than it's real value, and mostly for political fodder.
well if this case does go through and verizon has to pay 20 billion$, expect many more job cuts for the ordinary people!
I say they should wiretap those sueing the phone companies. They are acting like they have something to hide. I think some of us should open your eyes and stop the traditional mentality which is only getting in the way of stopping these criminals and think that times have changed and we should let technology serve us and not those with criminal minds.
All those technological resources were available before 9-11. What did they serve for? You think they are using those resourses better now? Of course they are, because people is asking - What were you doing with the wire tap before 9-11? Who were you tracking before 9-11? Again and last time. This is not about if tracking or wire tap is good or bad. Law enforcement agencies will do it anyway. They can even ask for the warrant retroactive AFTER the wire tap. Privacy groups just want a record keeping policy. They are not opposed to wiretap or tracking people. Let me say it again: Privacy Groups are not opposed to wiretap. Can I say it again? Privacy Groups are not opposed to wiretap. But records are only available if they serve warrants or subpoenas. Lets say 40 or 50 years in the future our sons or grandsons will look back at what we did. Then they will ask: Was all that wiretap and tracking ordinary people worth it? Maybe yes – but without records we’ll never know. I agree, They Must have a warrant. Is that too much to ask for? A simple paper with your name or my name and a date.
