The Bush Administration has illegally spied on the phone calls of millions of Americans, and AT&T and Verizon have been helping by voluntarily giving customers' records to the National Security Agency (NSA).
The shareholders of these public companies are asking for the truth. How have AT&T and Verizon handled customers' personal information, and how will they address this domestic spying scandal?
AT&T and Verizon shareholders - and the American people - deserve to know!
According to media reports, the reason for collecting this private information is to "create a database of every call ever made within the nation's borders." This program affects all U.S. citizens, not just those suspected of terrorist or criminal activity. This is illegal and un-American!
Tell AT&T and Verizon to come clean to shareholders on the legal and ethical duty to protect the privacy of their customers.
Dear [AT&T or Verizon CEO name],
I have been deeply disturbed by recent media reports that your company has been providing the National Security Agency with wholesale access to the communications of its customers in apparent violation of the law.
I am a concerned user of the U.S. telecommunications system who is greatly affected by your company's actions in this area, and I have been following this story with great interest.
Now, I understand a group of shareholders is attempting to put this issue on the agenda at the next shareholder meeting. I also understand that your organization is attempting to obstruct discussion of this issue by appealing to the Securities and Exchange Commission for permission to block a proposed shareholder resolution.
I am writing to ask that you stop attempting to obstruct a vote on the proposed shareholder resolution and allow a full discussion of this issue.
I regard this as an issue of vital importance to America and its future as a free nation. As a concerned citizen, I want you to know that not only do I expect you to refrain from sharing our communications with the government (or anyone else) except through legal means authorized by Congress and the Constitution, but I also expect you to be honest and forthcoming about your policies with regard to government requests for private customer information.
To begin with, please stop trying to block the proposed resolution to be considered at the next stockholder meeting, which would only require management to take the relatively modest step of issuing a report on the general issues surrounding any possible cooperation with the NSA and other government agencies, what steps the company could take to "further ensure" customer privacy, and the company's expenditures related to the program.
[Your comment here]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
