German government cancels Verizon contract in wake of U.S. spying row
Source: Reuters
The German government has cancelled a contract with U.S. telecoms firm Verizon Communications Inc VZ.N as part of an overhaul of its internal communications, prompted by revelations last year of U.S. government spying.
Reports based on disclosures by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden alleged Washington had conducted mass surveillance in Germany and had even eavesdropped on Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone.
Berlin subsequently demanded talks with Washington on a "no-spy" deal, but these collapsed after the United States appeared unwilling to give the assurances Germany wanted.
Germany also launched an overhaul of its internal communications and secure government networks. This is one of the first actions involving a U.S. firm to result.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/26/us-germany-security-verizon-idUSKBN0F11WJ20140626
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)Tetris_Iguana
(501 posts)CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?!
Thanks to Edward Snowden, they can, and they will until we are finally free.
verizon sucks anyway
apnu
(8,759 posts)Instead of building within, 1st world countries rely on fully globalized enterprises who are beholden to no one really and they wonder if its secure? Wow. Just wow. I would have loved to be in the room with the Verizon guy telling the German Government to buy their services and the Germans just nodding along like dumb sheep.
When are governments going to learn? You cannot outsource to private enterprises. They aren't in it for their client's benefit. They never have been, they never will be.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)dougolat
(716 posts)Now nobody trusts you.
(Goes double for AT&T)