![]() |
|
|
Bush seeks immunity for telecom firms
Saturday, September 1st, 2007
The Bush administration wants the power to grant legal immunity to telecommunications companies that are slapped with privacy suits for cooperating with the White House’s controversial warrantless eavesdropping programme.The authority would effectively shut down dozens of lawsuits filed against telecommunications companies accused of helping set up the programme. The vaguely worded proposal would shield any person who allegedly provided information, infrastructure or “any other form of assistance” to the intelligence agencies after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. It covers any classified communications activity intended to protect the country from terrorism. Republicans say immunity is necessary to protect the companies that responded to legal presidential orders to thwart terrorists in the years after 9/11. Yet some Democrats fear the administration’s proposal would do much more than advertised, potentially protecting anyone who gave broad categories of aid to the government as part of a spy programme that monitors communications. Because the administration does not want to identify which companies participated in the operations, it is asking Congress to let the attorney-general intervene on behalf of any person or company accused of participating in the surveillance work, whether or not they actually did, two senior justice department officials said. More than a dozen government officials interviewed for this story spoke on condition they not be identified because sensitive negotiations with Congress are ongoing. One of the officials said the defendants in suits brought by the American Civil Liberties Union — Verizon and AT&T — would be the key beneficiaries of the proposed legislation. Both companies are a central part of the US communications grid, running networks that transmit both telephone calls and emails. (AP) Have Your Say: Bush seeks immunity for telecom firms Please read our posting guidelines before posting. Alternatively you can discuss this report here. One Response to “Bush seeks immunity for telecom firms”
Related News
|
Google Spider Goats [A film for all Americans] Last post by Regina @ 09:54 PM Go to Forum
| Latest Topics
£1,000 penalties for out-of-date ID details Last post by Nostalgia @ 09:13 PM Mens bras.....I kid you not! Last post by Nostalgia @ 09:11 PM The Ringworm Children Last post by Nostalgia @ 09:05 PM Radio Host Has Drug Company Ties Last post by Regina @ 08:46 PM Burger chains agree to health-drive revolution Last post by Regina @ 08:40 PM Hey Ashley! Last post by Regina @ 08:14 PM Rothschild Investment Banking Posts Record Results: What's Their Secret? Last post by loki @ 08:14 PM EU is costing Britain £106K a MINUTE Last post by Regina @ 06:45 PM Can anyone smell a "Left Wing" RAT?! Last post by Unregistered @ 06:16 PM Email This Page To A Friend Latest Headlines
More World News Archive
|
The views expressed in the RINF news wire and newsletter are the sole responsibility of the author (s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the webmaster. RINF.COM: Breaking News & Alternative Media is Copyleft - Copy & Distribute Freely. News Forum |
poker en ligne interdit
In the first case jeux poker en ligne gratuites jouer poker online gratuites jeu poker omaha gratuites jeux de poker gratuites casino poker texas