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AT&T: Your world. Delivered. To the NSA.

AT&T: Your world. Delivered. To the NSA. by lawgeek.

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danielftl says:

I realize that EFF's lawsuit against ATT will probably be dismissed, but I take some amount of consolation in the fact that ATT now has a public relations nightmare on its hands.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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lawgeek  Pro User  says:

Actually, don't count us out just yet. We're still got a few arrows in our quiver.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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Kevitivity  Pro User  says:

It will be dismissed, as it should be.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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jahfool says:

"As it should be" - ? I'm not familiar with all the details, but I think any case about mass illegal wiretapping should be tried in court. And highly publicized. Thanks EFF!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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Kevitivity  Pro User  says:

Illegal says who? Trust me - this is more a political move than anything. Google (among many others) has a much more massive data mining operation with tracking web users and email communications, but you wont see the EFF go after them.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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lawgeek  Pro User  says:

Umm, if you read our actual complaint, you will see the evidence and allegations that show exactly why what AT&T is doing is illegal. It's violating the Wiretap Act, among other things. AT&T tried to dismiss our complaint already and LOST. So at least one Federal Judge thinks we have enough of a case to proceed.

As for Google, if there was any evidence they were doing the same thing, we would go after them as well. But there isn't. As a lawyer, you need evidence before you sue someone. Google does collect massive amounts of data on its users and we regularly speak out about the dangers of this kind of data collection. However, there is no evidence of Google violating any specific law. You can't just go around suing companies for things you wish were illegal; they have to actually be illegal.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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Kevitivity  Pro User  says:

The vast majority of lawyers are disgusting shysters who merely manipulate people and law for money (the EFF stands to make millions from this action against ATT) - forgive me if I'm skeptical.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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lawgeek  Pro User  says:

You're certainly entitled to your skepticism, but I would ask that you refrain from stating baseless accusations as if they were fact.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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Obummer says:

Kev (I hope you don't mind me calling you "Kev") has an extremely cogent point here. Google's data mining operation is easily on the order of (at least) 1000 times larger than AT&T's. Hell, Google's data mining operation is WORLD-wide, and they aren't doing it because the NSA asked them to.

To be sure, Google is doing it for the $$$, as opposed to the NSA, an organization who's goals are a little more sincere, albeit governmental. People are being killed from NY & London to Israel & Thailand.

It's this very sick lack of context that gripes people.

A very wise man once said, "context is everything." Kev's words are harsh, but not without warrant, considering our current war-torn condition. At some point, our fine EFF lawyers have to come to terms with this, yes?

Lastly, even the less seasoned lawyers among us should easily realized that we are all merely stating our opinions here. Flickr is not a court of law.

So, NSA or Google. Who do you trust?
Um, don't answer that.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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jahfool says:

Why not- are you worried about who's watching?

I'm not entirely comfortable with Google's data mining, but to justify one wrong by pointing out another does not seem to me to be a valid defense. I would agree that more attention should be paid to the practices of Google et al., but in the debate of the suit against the NSA/AT&T, bringing up Google seems to be a bit of a red herring tactic.

Besides, I'm used to being mistreated by companies who are out to make a buck off me. I'd rather not have to get used to getting the same kind of disregard from my government (although frankly, it's getting kind of late for that).
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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RichardBronosky  Pro User  says:

JoeMo asked: NSA or Google. Who do you trust?

I use Gmail. I read the terms of their service. I held off for a very long time and continued to administer my own mail server. The quality of the service, value added by the data mining, and their general obedience over time helped make my choice.

The NSA also has terms of service. Although we don't have a choice in whether or not to use their services, we elect representatives that legislate those terms. I don't agree with much of anything those elected officials legislate, but I respect its sovereignty. When the NSA, AT&T, or your land lord violates the Wiretap Act, they must be taken to task. There is no freedom if the protection of freedom cannot be relied upon.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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