Verizon executive defends privacy practices

{mosads}”Verizon continually takes steps to safeguard its customers’ privacy,” he said in the memo. “Nevertheless, the law authorizes the federal courts to order a company to provide information in certain circumstances, and if Verizon were to receive such an order, we would be required to comply.” 

The court order requires Verizon to give the National Security Agency information on all of its customers’ phone records — not just those under any suspicion of wrongdoing. The order covers the numbers of both callers, the time and duration of the calls and other identifying information. The order does not cover the contents of conversations or text messages.

An administration official defended the mass data collection program on Thursday as a “critical tool in protecting the nation from terrorist threats to the United States.” 

“It allows counterterrorism personnel to discover whether known or suspected terrorists have been in contact with other persons who may be engaged in terrorist activities, particularly people located inside the United States,” the official said.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), the top members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Thursday that they were aware of the NSA surveillance program and that it has been going on for years.