Occhidiangela,May 18 2006, 04:15 PM Wrote:Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act (COPE Act)

*snip*

Occhi
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Occhidiangela,May 18 2006, 04:15 PM Wrote:A site called "savetheinternet" that is running an online petition  :rolleyes: Yeah, those work . . . NOT!
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Quote:PDF documents from AT&T attorneys reveal details confirming previous allegations of NSA wiretapping

AT&T attorneys released a legal briefing with three pages of redacted information in a PDF format. Unfortunately for AT&T and the US National Security Agency, the censored information was still readable in many PDF viewing applications. The document was part of the same EFF lawsuit filed back in February of this year.

The document alluded that a room in one of AT&T's switching centers is dedicated to NSA digital eavesdropping -- complete with backup fiber optic splices and monitoring equipment. CNET claims the following is part of the censored text with regard to the NSA room: "Although the plaintiffs ominously refer to the equipment as the 'Surveillance Configuration,' the same physical equipment could be utilized exclusively for other surveillance in full compliance with [the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]."

This accidental leak of information comes on the heels of a separate document leak incident orchestrated by AT&T insider and whistleblower Mark Klein. Klein claims he spliced fiber optic cable to a room in an AT&T switching center for the NSA. That room, it turns out, is the same room mentioned in the PDF document that was improperly censored.

Cable companies have been quick to jump on the negative press surrounding AT&T and its alleged breach of privacy. Several cable companies including Comcast, Cox and Time Warner, issued statements claiming they will not provide the NSA with unwarranted information.

Quote:AT&T's updated policy has an impact on the company's 7 million Internet and video customers

AT&T has a new privacy policy that will go into effect tomorrow. The new policy officially says that the company can access AT&T customer confidential information and is allowed to do whatever it wishes with it. Specifically, it can be used "to protect its legitimate business interests, safeguard others, or respond to legal process." The new policy will allow AT&T to hand over customer data to anyone for any reason. Customers that want to keep using AT&T will have to agree to the new policy after it is enacted. The company will also begin monitoring the viewing habits of its customers, which will allow it to track usage on its U-verse IPTV service.

"While your account information may be personal to you, these records constitute business records that are owned by AT&T," is the official statement from AT&T. AT&T "does not access, read, upload or store data contained in or derived from private files without the member's authorization," has also been enacted with the new policy.

The policy change comes at a time when many privacy advocates are already angered with AT&T after it was disclosed that the company has helped the National Security Agency (NSA) eavesdrop on U.S. citizens. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) both currently have lawsuits pending against AT&T. In AT&T's defense, the company claims that the changes have been in the works since December 2005, but

Quote:"While your account information may be personal to you, these records constitute business records that are owned by AT&T,"

Quote:Don't forget people: this isn't a truck! there are tubes involved.

Quote:Down with net neutrality! So everyone can have their own personal intranets.

DUHHHHHHHHH

Don't forget people: this isn't a truck! there are tubes involved.

Quote:A federal judge has rejected a motion by the US government and AT&T to dismiss a lawsuit against AT&T, which was accused by the Electronic Frontier Foundation of assisting the National Security Agency in eavesdropping on Americans. The lawsuit was originally filed against AT&T on January 31, 2006. The US government attempted to have the lawsuit thrown out because it potentially jeopardized the war on terror and may unintentionally reveal state secrets. The decision by a US District Court Judge in San Francisco will allow the EFF's class action lawsuit against AT&T to continue.

Free speech and privacy issues arose when it was disclosed that AT&T apparently opened up its telecommunications facilties so that the NSA could use them while spying on phone conversations and e-mails of millions of American citizens.

Quote:"AT&T cannot seriously contend that a reasonable entity in its position could have believe that the alleged domestic dragnet was legal," US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker said.

A Justice Department spokesman said the administration was reviewing the ruling before making its next step.

"The compromise between liberty and security remains a difficult one...but dismissing this case at the outset would sacrifice liberty for no apparent enhancement of security."

``It might appear that none of the subject matter in this litigation could be considered a secret given that the alleged surveillance programs have been so widely reported in the media,'' Walker said.

The state secrets defense, first recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court in a McCarthy-era lawsuit, has been increasingly and successfully invoked by federal lawyers seeking to shield the government from court scrutiny.

Quote:A report in the Washington Post said that President Bush blocked an internal investigation into the controversial NSA wire tapping program that was being put together by the Office of Professional Responsibility. The OPR launched an investigation into the NSA wire tapping program to see whether or not there were questionable activities. The wire tapping program was launched after 9/11 but Congress and the Bush administration has been arguing over its legality since.

According to the OPR, this type of block is a first in all of American history, and suspicion has mounted in regards to President Bush's decision. "Since its creation some 31 years ago, OPR has conducted many highly sensitive investigations involving Executive Branch programs and has obtained access to information classified at the highest levels," said OPR chief lawyer H. Marshall Jarrett in a memorandum. Jarret said that "in all those years, OPR has never been prevented from initiating or pursuing an investigation."

Some government officials say that Bush's decision to block the investigation is unusual. The OPR is part of the Justice Department. Because of the decision, the OPR was forced to drop the investigation on the NSA tapping program, which many government officials and outsiders previously stated was extremely controversial. The Bush administration allowed the NSA tapping program to conduct its business without first acquiring warrants from the Justice

Quote:Another grab of power by exec branch removing counterbalances via self investigation. I'm growing up, and the world is far more insane than I've ever previously imagined.