Danny O’Brien of the EFF says,
Newsweek is reporting that companies like AT&T, working with the White House are using their money to push for blanket retroactive immunity for their involvement in the administration’s warrantless wiretapping schemes:
But critics say the language proposed by the White House–drafted in close cooperation with the industry officials–is so extraordinarily broad that it would provide retroactive immunity for all past telecom actions related to the surveillance program. Its practical effect, they argue, would be to shut down any independent judicial or state inquires into how the companies have assisted the government in eavesdropping on the telephone calls and e-mails of U.S. residents in the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks.
The plan is to kill by fiat the court case the EFF is running against these phone companies. What’s weird is the Democrats appear to be going along with this, even though it would effectively cover up the Bush administration’s past crimes. As Glenn Greenwald writes in Salon, quoting a New York Times piece:
Democratic Congressional aides say they believe that a deal is likely to provide protection for the companies.
If you think that the Democrats should stand up to AT&T’s lobbyists, you can call them now:
Call Rep. Nancy Pelosi – 202-225-4965
Call Sen. Harry Reid – 202-224-3542Tips on what to say on EFF’s Stop the Spying site.
Image ganked from Williac’s Flickr stream.