Guest Guest Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 The Legality blog has an interesting read on just how much telecom providers like AT&T could owe their customers should the lawsuit against them for illegal wiretapping be allowed to proceed. While there are more than forty potential suits currently open against Sprint, Verizon and AT&T, the EFF's case against AT&T is the most highly visible, given it involved a 22-year former employee turned whistleblower. If the EFF case proceeds and it shows widespread violation of FISA laws, AT&T would be in some serious financial trouble: Code provision 50 U.S.C. § 1810 imposes civil liability on any person (or entity) for each violation of FISA. Victims of illegal surveillance are entitled to recover $100 for each day they were wiretapped, or actual damages over $1000, whichever is greater. Additionally, FISA provides compensation for attorney’s fees and other costs of litigation. . . As you may imagine, one hundred dollars per day, per person adds up over four years. If the Hepting lawsuit is successful, AT&T could face damages of over $36,500 per claimant per year. Nearly every person with a computer or phone in the United States could be impacted. AT&T serves 14.2 million broadband customers and roughly 70 million landline users. If they were forced to pay $146,000 to each landline customer, AT&T could be facing a total legal liability cost of $10,220,000,000,000. While highly unlikely given AT&T's lobbying & legal prowess, these kind of numbers make it a little more clear why AT&T and Verizon have been spending millions in DC over the past few years in order to get legal immunity for their involvement in these programs. Congress is currently on vacation, but when they return the House will be tasked with deciding whether or not to fight, or support, these companies' request for immunity as they move to renew FISA. I'd like mine in 20's and 100's please! Actually, since there's no way in hell consumers will see a dime, I would prefer that any telecom executives and lawyers that signed off on or agreed to do this for the government GO TO JAIL! I don't know if the article talks about criminal penalties, but sending several top executive and top lawyers to jail would certainly provide a good lesson in civic responsibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Source = http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Cou...ou-146000-92044 Sorry, forgot to add above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BC Voice of Reason Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 The lawyers will receive $10,219,999,000,000, and the average Joe Schmo will get a class action check for 9 dollars and 75 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 "Congress is currently on vacation, but when they return the House will be tasked with deciding whether or not to fight, or support, these companies' request for immunity as they move to renew FISA." When is Congress not on vacation? @ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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