Wiretap Ruling Threatens Telecoms

[Syrinx]

Telecommunications and Internet companies accused of working with the Bush Administration's domestic eavesdropping program could be in for more legal headaches, after a federal judge ruled Thursday that the warrantless wiretaps violated the constitution.

Businesses accused of aiding the Bush administration in wiretapping could also be in for a legal bruising, say civil liberties groups that have sued telecom providers AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ), and BellSouth (BLS) for allegedly helping the NSA. The ruling could set a precedent other courts can't ignore.

"Every phone company that is assisting the government in its illegal surveillance would want to think long and hard before it continues that agreement," says Ann Beeson, the ACLU's lead attorney in the case. "There are already lawsuits claiming that their cooperation for the past several years is illegal and now that the judge has declared it is illegal, their liability increases. The risk is much greater from a business perspective."

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2006/tc20060818_382622.htm?campaign_id=bier_bier_tpnun

[Sherman A1]

1. YES!

It would be just too, too bad if the telecoms had to pony up some damages for this little escapade!