You may remember not too long ago Google denied the same request...but Google doesn't depend on wireless operating licenses from the FCC as do wireless carriers and the potential of having any of those at risk of being denied would cripple any wireless carrier in a heartbeat..so...did the telcoms have a choice in the matter? Quest, who is also not a substantial wireless carrier also refused. Recently is has also been disclosed that the FBI has a data base containing health records information as well, but again little is known here as well as far as what information is contained and how it was or would be utilized, thus the congressional investigation. BD
Lawmakers claim privacy rights are being lost in the focus on homeland security. A group of U.S. House Democrats upped the pressure on Oct. 2 on the nation's major telecom carriers to account for their alleged complicity in turning over unauthorized telephone and e-mail records to national intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency and the FBI.
Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the FBI may use what is known as National Security Letters to obtain—without judicial review—the records of businesses, including telephone companies and Internet service providers. In a March report, the Department of Justice's Inspector General found the FBI improperly obtained the telephone records and subscriber information from three telephone companies.
In letters sent to AT&T, BellSouth, Verizon and Qwest, the lawmakers requested the telecoms provide Congress with a detailed account of their dealings with the NSA, including the installation of any equipment on their networks designed to intercept Internet traffic. Democratic Representatives John Dingell and Bart Stupak, both of Michigan, and Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts signed the letters.
AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth have all been singled out in a number of accounts as providing the NSA with access to millions of customers' telephone records without the customers' knowledge or consent. Allegedly, Qwest was also approached by the NSA but refused to cooperate.
The Bush administration has admitted the program existed, but has been vague on other details."Since the Bush administration has been unwilling to discuss adequately this situation, I hope these telecommunications companies will be more forthcoming about the circumstances in which they have disclosed consumer information," Markey said.
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