How AT&T helped the US government spy on their citizens’ internet communications

Newly discovered documents have exposed that, not only does AT&T work closely with U.S. spy agencies, but they have been directly facilitating the snooping of any internet traffic which runs through the customers’ networks for years.

According to the documents, AT&T’s cooperation has involved a broad range of classified activities which date from 2003 to 2013 where AT&T has given the NSA access, through several methods covered under different “legal” rules, to billions of emails as they have flowed across its domestic networks. They even provided technical assistance in carrying out a secret court order permitting the wiretapping of all internet communications at the United Nations headquarters!

Brad Burns, an AT&T spokesman, elaborated on how the company justifies violating millions of Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights daily as, “We do not voluntarily provide information to any investigating authorities other than if a person’s life is in danger and time is of the essence.” It seems that it is actually the countries liberty that is in danger, and time is clearly of the essence for turning the tyranny around!

Source:

NYTimes.com