US government gags telcos over snooping claims

THREE OF THE BIGGEST US telephone companies refused to tell an investigating committee about how they helped the Bush administration spy on its citizens, because the Bush administration told them to keep their mouths shut.

A body called the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked the telcos about measures they used to monitor the email and telephone calls of their customers.

But they didn't get any answers. "Our company essentially finds itself caught in the middle of an oversight dispute between the Congress and the executive relating to government surveillance activities," wrote AT&T Inc. General Counsel Wayne Watts in a letter released today by the committee.

It also emerged that Verizon Communications Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. wouldn't answer questions either. They said they couldn't because the "Justice" Department told them not to.

Following legislation permitting snoops to snoop through emails and listen in on phone calls without a court warrant, director of National Intelligence, Michael McConnell also said the telcos should be given immunity from lawsuits over privacy violations.

Some are already being sued for snooping on the government's behalf.

More here. µ