CIA Pays AT&T For Providing Customer Call Records: Report

CIA Pays AT&T For Providing Customer Call Records: Report

By Sreeja VN

on November 08 2013 6:09 AM

http://www.ibtimes.com/cia-pays-att-providing-customer-call-records-report-1461758

AT&T (NYSE:T) is providing the CIA with data on calls made on its network by overseas customers, as well as those made to Americans from outside the country, in exchange for payment under a voluntary contract, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing government officials.

The CIA has paid more than $10 million a year to AT&T in exchange for customer phone records sought by the agency for its anti-terrorist operations overseas, the report said, adding that the CIA provides phone numbers of potential terrorist suspects in foreign countries to AT&T, and the telecom company scours through its vast database, which includes both its customers as well as other users who use its network equipments both in the U.S. and outside, for call records and other related information on specific phone numbers that could help the agency track down suspects.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Kenneth M. Pollack was an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), a senior fellow, Middle East policy for the Brookings Institution (think tank), and is a senior fellow for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy.

Note: Saban Center for Middle East Policy was a policy center at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

AT&T Inc. was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros is the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Laura D'Andrea Tyson was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and is a director at AT&T Inc.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP is the lobby firm for AT&T Inc.

James W. Cicconi was a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a senior EVP for AT&T Inc.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Valerie B. Jarrett is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Saban Center for Middle East Policy was a policy center at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Kenneth M. Pollack is a senior fellow for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, a senior fellow, Middle East policy for the Brookings Institution (think tank), and was an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).