Ride the Lightning

Vodaphone Discloses Direct Government Wiretaps

June 10, 2014

A recent BBC story revealed news that is perhaps unsurprising but alarming.

Vodafone has said that a small number of governments have direct access to communications flowing over its networks. Although most countries need a warrant to intercept communications, there are some nations where police have a direct link to customer's phone calls and web communications.

Vodafone said it values customer privacy, but it must comply with laws "designed to protect national security and public safety".

In most of the 29 countries where Vodafone has major operations, including the United Kingdom, law enforcement and intelligence agencies must have a warrant to listen to phone calls or look at text messages, emails or web chats.

The firm said it could not specify the six countries that have a direct line into its networks, because those countries have laws prohibiting disclosure of surveillance methods.

In its first-ever transparency report, Vodafone said that in a small number of countries, it "will not receive any form of demand for lawful interception access, as the relevant agencies and authorities already have permanent access to customer communications via their own direct link."

Congratulations to Vodaphone for issuing its first transparency report.

E-mail:    Phone: 703-359-0700
Digital Forensics/Information Security/Information Technology
http://www.senseient.com
http://twitter.com/sharonnelsonesq