N.J. ATTORNEYS SUE VERIZON FOR PRIVACY VIOLATION

摘要

Two activist N.J. attorneys filed suit late Fri. against Verizon, alleging the Bell gave subscriber data to the National Security Agency (NSA) in violation of the Telecom Act and the Constitution. In a case that in many ways mirrors an Electronic Freedom Foundation action against AT&T, the lawyers seek damages that could run to the billions. Bruce Afran and Carl Mayer sued in U.S. District Court, Manhattan, where Verizon has its hq. They based their suit partly on a USA Today story alleging the U.S. had agreements with all the Bells but Qwest to provide call information on millions of subscribers. Afran and Mayer have made reputations as gadflies with actions such as suing N.J. Gov. Jon Corzine (D) for appointing his successor in the U.S. Senate. The suit seeks $1,000 per violation, or $5 billion if the case becomes a class action.