News keeps breaking about the alleged electronic surveillance done by U.S. spy agencies. The CIA is paying AT&T more than $10 million a year to assist with overseas counterterrorism investigations by exploiting the companys vast database of phone records, which includes Americans international calls, according to government officials. According to the Times: The C.I.A. supplies phone numbers of overseas terrorism suspects, and AT&T searches its database and provides records of calls that may help identify foreign associates, the officials said. A CIA spokesman wouldnt confirm the programs existence, but tells the Times that the agencys work is done according to the law and is subject to extensive oversight. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel also does not confirm the programs existence and is reported as saying the company values customers privacy and complies with the law in all respects. Most of the calls the CIA wants data about are foreign-to-foreign, officials say. If one end of a call is from the U.S., the agency reportedly masks several digits when it requests information. Other news outlets, including NPR, havent yet matched or knocked down the Times report.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 16:32:01 +0000
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