Originally published February 23 2006
Companies that helped with NSA surveillance face uncertainty
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Under federal law, anyone who helps "intercept any wire, oral, or electronic communication" could face criminal charges. This, along with negative press, may be worrisome for the unidentified companies that assisted the NSA.
Some reports have identified executives at "major telecommunications companies" who chose to open their networks to the NSA.
Because it may be illegal to divulge customer communications, though, not one has chosen to make its cooperation public.
What's new: A survey by CNET News.com has identified 15 large telecom and Internet companies that are willing to say that they have not participated in the NSA surveillance program, as well as another 12 that declined to reply.
Because it may be illegal to divulge customer communications, though, not one of the companies has chosen to make its cooperation public.
Under federal law, any person or company who helps someone "intercept any wire, oral, or electronic communication"--unless specifically authorized by law--could face criminal charges.
Twelve other companies that were contacted and asked identical questions chose not to reply, in some cases citing "national security" as the reason.
Another possibility is the company's lawyers were unavailable or chose not to reply for unknown reasons.
Also, some survey recipients, such as NTT Communications, responded with a general statement expressing compliance "with law enforcement requests as permitted and required by law" rather than addressing the question of NSA surveillance.
AT&T, Cable & Wireless, Global Crossing, Level 3, NTT Communications, SAVVIS Communications and Verizon Communications chose not to answer the questions posed to them.
The New York Times reported on Dec. 24 that the NSA has gained access to switches that act as gateways at the borders between the United States' communications networks and international networks.
But "the identities of the corporations involved could not be determined," the newspaper added.
According to the International Cable Protection Committee, the company has full or partial ownership of several trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific cables.
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