February 11, 2009 6:29 PM
- Text
Verizon Denies NSA Sought Call Data
(CBS/AP)
Verizon Communications Inc. denied Tuesday that it had received a request for customer phone records from the National Security Agency, and AT&T said it doesn't give consumer information without a court order, bringing into question key points of a USA Today story.
"Contrary to the media reports, Verizon was not asked by NSA to provide, nor did Verizon provide, customer phone records," the New York-based phone company said in an e-mailed statement.
A spokesman from AT&T said the company does not "allow wiretapping without a court order, nor has it otherwise given customer information to law enforcement authorities or government agencies without legal authorization."
The statements came a day after BellSouth Corp. also said it had not provided the agency any customer call data.
A story in USA Today last Thursday said Verizon, AT&T and BellSouth had complied with an NSA request for tens of millions of customer phone records after the 2001 terror attacks. The report sparked a national debate on federal surveillance tactics.
The newspaper story cited anonymous sources "with direct knowledge of the arrangement."
"We're confident in our coverage of the phone database story," Anderson added, "but we won't summarily dismiss BellSouth's and Verizon's denials without taking a closer look."
The New York Times had earlier reported the existence of an NSA eavesdropping program on international calls without warrants. Any collection of domestic consumer records would suggest the NSA program was far larger than suspected, reports CBS News correspondent Jim Stewart.
USA Today said in a follow-up story Tuesday that BellSouth did not challenge the initial report when given details about it before publication. But BellSouth spokesman Jeff Battcher said he never agreed to the reporter's allegations when presented with them.
Verizon also said USA Today erred in not drawing a distinction between long-distance and local telephone calls.
"Phone companies do not even make records of local calls in most cases because the vast majority of customers are not billed per call for local calls," Verizon's statement said.
Verizon's statement Tuesday apparently did not apply to MCI, which Verizon acquired in January. In an earlier statement, Verizon said it is in the process of ensuring that its policies are put in place in the former MCI business.
MCI had a long-distance consumer business, but its main source of revenue was corporate clients.
"Contrary to the media reports, Verizon was not asked by NSA to provide, nor did Verizon provide, customer phone records," the New York-based phone company said in an e-mailed statement.
A spokesman from AT&T said the company does not "allow wiretapping without a court order, nor has it otherwise given customer information to law enforcement authorities or government agencies without legal authorization."
The statements came a day after BellSouth Corp. also said it had not provided the agency any customer call data.
A story in USA Today last Thursday said Verizon, AT&T and BellSouth had complied with an NSA request for tens of millions of customer phone records after the 2001 terror attacks. The report sparked a national debate on federal surveillance tactics.
The newspaper story cited anonymous sources "with direct knowledge of the arrangement."
"Sources told us that BellSouth and Verizon records are included in the database," USA Today spokesman Steve Anderson said Tuesday.
Read Verizon's Statement
< link=http://bellsouth.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=2860>Read BellSouth's statement
"We're confident in our coverage of the phone database story," Anderson added, "but we won't summarily dismiss BellSouth's and Verizon's denials without taking a closer look."
The New York Times had earlier reported the existence of an NSA eavesdropping program on international calls without warrants. Any collection of domestic consumer records would suggest the NSA program was far larger than suspected, reports CBS News correspondent Jim Stewart.
USA Today said in a follow-up story Tuesday that BellSouth did not challenge the initial report when given details about it before publication. But BellSouth spokesman Jeff Battcher said he never agreed to the reporter's allegations when presented with them.
Verizon also said USA Today erred in not drawing a distinction between long-distance and local telephone calls.
"Phone companies do not even make records of local calls in most cases because the vast majority of customers are not billed per call for local calls," Verizon's statement said.
Verizon's statement Tuesday apparently did not apply to MCI, which Verizon acquired in January. In an earlier statement, Verizon said it is in the process of ensuring that its policies are put in place in the former MCI business.
MCI had a long-distance consumer business, but its main source of revenue was corporate clients.
- 1
- 2
- Next Page »
Latest Now in National
- Grammy producer on honoring Whitney
- Store where Powerball ticket sold to be revealed
- Houston's death not considered suspicious
- Adele's revealing "60 Minutes" interview
- Gayle King on scene as word came of Houston's death
- Whitney Houston remembered at Grammys
- JFK Library to make public Jackie O's papers
- CBS This Morning headlines: Calories and memory
- Trial set for Ala man in bride's honeymoon death
- Eye Opener: Remembering Whitney Houston
- Classes to resume at NH school after shooting
- Pastor's daughter accidentally shot at church
- Hutaree militia members face trial
- The nations weather
- Whitney Houston death may be mystery for weeks
- Murder trial of ex-U.Va. lax player enters week 2
- More human remains found at Calif. ranch
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
- Triumph, tragedy dominate Grammy Awards
- GE to hire 5,000 veterans over next 5 years
- Private equity firm to buy SeraCare for about $78M
- Gwen Stefani runway show inspired by '60s rock
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
