Verizon exercises right to free speech

PHONE COMPANY Verizon is claiming that handing over details of its customer's calls to government snoops is just exercising its "free speech" rights under the US constitution.

Verizon, which is being sued for handing over phone records to the NSA, has asked for the case to be chucked out on free speech grounds.

According to Arstechnica, Verizon's lawyers told the court that under the First Amendment the outfit has a right to petition the government and this is protected free speech.

So, if the company turns over any truthful information to the government then this is free speech and protected by the constitution. In fact by trying to stop its customers' information ending up in the paws of the US government spooks, human rights groups who are pushing the action are conducting a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation suit. This is an attempt to deter the company from exercising its First Amendment right to turn over customer calling information to government security services.

Just in case that argument fails, Verizon is also claiming that even looking at the case could violate state secrets. µ