Paul's Web Space 2.1

Colbert Report on Protect America Act

Stephen Colbert once again hits the nail on the head regarding the power of telecommunications companies. This time, he skewers their request for retroactive immunity from prosecution for illegally wiretapping an unknown number of Americans in the aftermath of 9/11.

The House Democratic leadership must stand firm on their commitment to leave this clause out of the renewal of the Protect America Act. This would set a bad precedent, by essentially letting the administration and telcos off the hook for widespread disregard of privacy rights. If we give up our rights in the name of security, we've lost the war on terror.

It looks like they are holding fast for now. Read more on FISA.

Labels: aclu, amnesty, fisa, privacy, telco

   Link: http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/player.jhtml?ml_video=163287&is_large=true

¶ 11:32 AM | Permalink | | | Links to this post
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Case Dismissed? The secret lobbying campaign your phone company doesn't want you to know about

This article from Newsweek's web site outlines a VERY scary lobbying campaign by the telcos to enlist the most connected lobbyists in Wasghington to push for a law immunizing them from lawsuits related to (illegal) wiretapping and their enthusiastic embrace of it. They seek to not only stop a class action lawsuit that EFF is pursuing against AT&T. However the immunity sought is so broad that it appears likely to protect phone companies from any action brought regarding surveillance, whether it is currently happening or occurred in the past.

Labels: att, eff, privacy, surveillance, telco

   Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20884696/site/newsweek/page/0/

¶ 6:02 PM | Permalink | | | Links to this post
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