February 13, 2008

US Senate Approves Telecom Immunity for Role in Warrantless Wiretap Program

The US Senate yesterday voted to shut down a series of high-profile lawsuits against telecommunications companies that facilitated President Bush's warrantless surveillance program, taking a major step toward closing the last forum in which critics have challenged the operation's legality. In a victory for the White House, the Senate voted to grant retroactive immunity from lawsuits to telecom companies - including industry giants AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint - that have been sued by customers for allegedly allowing the government to eavesdrop on private calls and e-mails despite communications privacy laws.

Senate OK's immunity on wiretaps, Boston Globe, February 13, 2008.