After the brouhaha earlier this year, when attorneys targeted the nation’s largest telecommunications companies, including ATT, BellSouth, Verizon, MCI and Sprint (among others) for their alleged participation in the government’s warrantless wiretapping program and turning over the call records of American citizens, Digicel has distanced itself from surveillance claims. The company denied any illegal tapping of customers’ phones by the State Intelligence Agency (SIA), although it acknowledged the use of its facilities. Meanwhile, the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) indicated that it will cooperate with investigations into the spying operations. Here are excerpts with a link to the full article below:
That was the essence of statements issued by both companies following comments by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that the two had been “commanded” to help the SIA monitor the landline and cell phone calls as well as text messages and emails of scores of public officials and private citizens.
For its part, Digicel sought to reassure customers that it never monitored their accounts, neither was it aware of any details emerging from the surveillance of such by the SIA [adding that] “In addition, Digicel does not have the capacity to carry out these actions. Further, the equipment used for national surveillance was purchased and is therefore owned by the Ministry of National Security. Digicel has had no control or insights into who has been monitored. [. . .] Digicel was also assured that the equipment would be used solely for investigating issues of national security and our compliance was therefore in keeping with our licence to operate.”
Meantime, TSTT has neither denied nor confirmed that it was roped into helping the SIA monitor calls. “Following recent disclosures on the issue of wire-tapping and the decision of the Government to engage the office of the DPP to consider further enquiries, TSTT wishes to decline from making any public comment on the matter at this time,” it said.
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar revealed last week that the SIA had been spying on parliamentarians from all parties, including her; media persons; members of the judiciary; trade unionists; and other private citizens, for about five years.
For full article, see http://www.caribbean360.com/news/trinidad_tobago_news/49660.html
