US Supreme Court rules against AT&T corporate privacy rights
The US Supreme Court has ruled that AT&T Inc and other corporations do not have personal privacy rights to prevent disclosure of federal government records about them.
The Justice unanimously overturned a ruling by a U.S. Appeals court for the telecommunications company that corporations can assert personal privacy in claiming that the records should be exempt from disclosure.
The high court, in an opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, agreed with the Obama administration’s argument that the personal privacy exemption under the Freedom of Information law applied only to individuals, not to corporations.
Public interest groups supported the government. They stated that under AT&T’s position, government records could be withheld about coal mine safety violations, offshore oil rig problems, dirty conditions at food manufacturing plants and questionable investment bank financial dealings.
Business groups supported AT&T and stated that corporations have long enjoyed a range of rights, including privacy rights. AT&T argued that the Federal Communications Commission should keep all the records secret during an investigation into its participation in the federal E-Rate program, which helps schools and libraries get Internet access.
AT&T told FCC in 2004 that an internal investigation had revealed certain irregularities in the company’s billings to a Connecticut school under the program.
O2 Germany confirms 1,100 Job cut
Telefonica O2 Germany has confirmed plans to merge its operations with its HanseNet subsidiary to become an incorporated telecommunications company.
The company has also made it clear that it is going to cut 1,100 jobs as the company is merging with its HanseNet subsidiary. The merged O2 and HanseNet will continue to operate under the name of Telefonica O2 Germany with its head office in Munich.
Telefonica O2 bought the German broadband company, Hansenet from Telecom Italia for US$1.25 billion this year.
According to Ren© Schuster, CEO Telef³nica O2 Germany, with O2 and HanseNet the company is merging two strong companies into one and thus creating a future-oriented organization that can act quickly in the market.
As per the agreement with Telecom Italia the Alice brand will still be used for more than two years and will get gradually O2. The incorporation will be accomplished by 31 March 2011.
