Obama's Cell Phone Records Looked At By Verizon Workers

WASHINGTON — Verizon employees snuck a peek at President-elect Barack Obama's old cell phone records and will be reprimanded accordingly, the company said late Thursday.

Obama aides said no voicemails or e-mails were accessed.

In a statement, Verizon Wireless President and CEO Lowell McAdam apologized to Obama and disclosed the breach, saying: "a number of Verizon Wireless employees have, without authorization, accessed and viewed President-elect Barack Obama's personal cell phone account."

He said the account has been inactive for several months and Obama had been using a simple voice flip-phone without email capabilities.

"All employees who have accessed the account _ whether authorized or not _ have been put on immediate leave, with pay," McAdam said. "Employees with legitimate business needs for access will be returned to their positions, while employees who have accessed the account improperly and without legitimate business justification will face appropriate disciplinary action."

Comments

[dougiec]

All very interesting, but what happened to the story about Homeland Security listening in on the calls of our military calling home to loved ones and passing around access to the "juicy" conversations for the amusement of their fellow HS eavesdroppers? That's the one that burns me!

[plzchuteme]

I don't get all of this union garbage. If these people are, in fact, union members, they are bound by the rules of the contract. If there is a loophole that allows for little or no punishment, then shame on the management. They signed the contract. Union representation is like defense attorneys. Even if someone is guilty, they deserve due process.

[learnsomething]

I wanted to boycott Verizon years ago when I found out thety were co-operating with the government in giving out information on their customers calling habits. I thought that was unethical, and even against the law, to violate the privacy of their customers.

[zapper501]

its the employees that did this, it wasnt company policy

[learnsomething]

Co-operating with NSA is the company policy though.

[Ramirez]

So did you actually boycott Verizon or did you just want to?

[learnsomething]

Yes I did. I didn't use them anymore.

[coastalcarla]

When I found out about Verizon working with the NSA, I switched to the only company that refused to help Bush spy on us: Qwest. And when I called up Verizon to cancel, I told them that was the reason. Qwest has excellent long distance service - I never noticed any change at all. And I had the peace of mind knowing that my phone records weren't being siphoned off to the thugs in Washington.

[learnsomething]

Thanks for the information. I glad to know you had another company to go to.

[NotMcCain]

New Headline: "Lured by the Prospect of a Paid Vacation, Today 5000 Verizon Workers Looked at Obama's Records"......

[kathy001]

LOL!!!

[gayinmt]

Now that's funny

[DebB]

My thoughts exactly when I read that!

[sade]

Instant Karma...remember FISA!

[4real]

famous people records should be only handled by a select few and other employees should not be able to access them. This should include bank, phone, medical, and travel.

[Ramirez]

Democrats cheered with delight when Ohio state employees - from six different agencies - investigated "Joe the Plumber" and turned his private information over to the media.

[OlskoolDem]

Are you talking about Joe the plumbers helper??

[plzchuteme]

I'm still cheering! Hurrah! Hurrah!

[jazzence]

Are you Ramirez the Plumber cause you seem awfully concerned with Joe.

[Damaven]

You are correct. There are services already for famous people involving banking, if they desire it, but of course, that's "money" - your health, personal calls and travel seem to be everbody's business around here.

[newshadeofblue]

Oh yeah...that makes sense. More special treatment. Forget equal service for the same rate i pay for the same service. This is elitist.

[4real]

well odds are phone company employees will never look into your records. Famous people are more of a target.

[sandra56]

YOU ARE DAMN RIGHT PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA DESERVES DIFFERENT TREATMENT AS EVERY PRESIDENT GET IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT .HIS SAFETY IS AT RISK THE COUNTRY HE WILL BE OUR LEADER OF IS AT RISK. AND HE IS ELIST.

[Doomestic]

I don't know about you Americans, but where I come from a "leave with pay" is called a vacation.

[ranger5]

Placed on leave without pay? Are you kidding? They should be fired immediately and Obama should sue for breach of contract. We've heard of government employees looking at passport info illegally; we've heard of the military eavesdropping on intimate moments of their own personnel instead of terrorists; we've heard of telecom companies violating their own customer contracts by allowing the government to datamine phone records without a warrant; now we have Verizon employees looking at the phone records of a presidential candidate. Americans have no privacy an longer. If it isn't government operations, legal or otherwise, it's rogue employees getting their jollies by listening in on private conversations. We are all being monitored to an unbelievable degree. When possible, we must fight back in the courts and in every other venue possible.

[DarkandStormyNight]

It's not okay to look at ANYONE'S phone records no matter whether you are union or not nor does matter how much money you make. In this case, we are talking about the PE and that is a serious matter. Also, I know people who work for Verizon. If they are union, they are NOT making $8/hr.

[springsm]

Verizon is one of those companies that spies for george bush's paranoid homeland security...I expect that some of those working for V. think it is okay to spy on everybody. And this might be nosey pranksters but the tone is set. Do they do that to gw too, do you think. And what does union have to do with it except that they can't be fired. After all...the company condones the practice.

[DarkandStormyNight]

You mean that Verizon has coorperated with the Bush administration in invading the privacy of everyday citizens and that has encourage a culture where employees just think it's okay. Good argument and very sad for all of us.

[newshadeofblue]

What are you talking about? What are your union experiences? When did having a collective bargaining unit become a bad thing? How do you know if this was union employees? The problem with standing on a pedestal is it is so easy to knock one off it!

[newshadeofblue]

Wake Up! You obviously have no clue how much information is out there that everyday folks look at all the time. Your cable bill, land line, cell phone, medical records, electric bill, gas bill, credit history are all at the fingertips to anyone who wants to know. Note most of those people who can know such things make less than $15.00 an hour. There is no privacy! I will save my outrage for something that matters like the cost of education, medical coverage and credit.

[kathy001]

The only reason "everyday folks" look at your records is to manage your accounts - and only when there is a problem with your account. Those records are all automated - all on computer - and a human being rarely has any need to look at them. Employees of these companies are not interested and they don't have time, even if they were interested. The only reason these people looked at Obama's records was because of who he is - not because they are in the habit of digging through everyone else's records.

[musicisourhigh]

Forget putting them on leave with pay. They should be fired or at least not given pay. If you do something criminal you should pay the price.

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

Yeah, where can I sign up for leave with pay?

[newshadeofblue]

Fired! What is wrong with you? How about applying the disciplinary guidelines the company has well established in which workers as well as the business follow? Extremists are dangerous whether from the left or the right!

[xmw]

Good ole union in action:(

[newshadeofblue]

What are you talking about! It was a stupid thing a few folks did.

[pleasethinkcritically]

"Reprimanded" Sounds like it wasn't the kids at the mall kiosk, but perhaps some high level employees. They need to be terminated. My wife would be most upset if I lost a six figure job for peaking at Obama's phone records.

[learnsomething]

WTF! All those involved should be fired. No if, ands, or buts!!!!!

[sklfcats]

What is Barack hiding?

[roald]

You know better than to ask that.

[Petey131]

Nothing. The question is: Would you allow a phone company snoop through your phone records? I won't! These people need to be fired!

IT'S CALLED PRIVACY

[newshadeofblue]

There is no such thing as privacy. It is a fallacy. Just how private do you think your information is?

[ellawensmom]

Why does this have to be that Obama is hiding something??? That's what has happened to this country since Bush got a hold of it6. If you don't want someone in your business, it's because you have something to hide, right??? Well, let me tell you something, sklfcats, I have absolutely nothing to hide. I work at a school, have a clean criminal background, take care of my family, everything that I'm supposed to do, and I wouldn't want some stupid, nosy Verizon employees in my business because it's MY business, not theirs. If they want to get involved in other people's lives, then they can watch soap operas. Spying is NOT an American value.

[learnsomething]

Thanks ellawensmom, I approve your message.

[islanbatman]

Lets us have a look at your phone and email accounts.

[Dandywalker]

Yeah, you are right, Lee Harvey
Somebody who doesnt wish to his cellphone is hiding something. Like Privacy.
Go sit on uncle Rush's lap while Aunt Hannity bake cookies, waiting for Palin's Book

[emstrem]

If this was unethical as some of you "Holier than Thou" people say, then my poor mayor wouldnt be sitting in the Wayne County Jail right now :)

Okay a little different, but these people probably make $8.00 per hour what do they have to lose? Welcome to the new America where there is no middle class, and thats where we will all be lucky to be working. Lets go ahead and punish the hardworking autoworkers because their CEO's are idiots who use corporate jets...WAKE UP PEOPLE, they are throwing you off of what is important with smoke and mirrors, and like sheep your eating it up.

[Wiserone]

Poor Mayor of Detroit? Yeah, right. He is RIGHT WHERE HE BELONGS - JAIL! I hope he enjoys his Thanksgiving behind bars. Crook!!

[Brillig]

And I am sure his cheated on wife agrees as well

[NotMcCain]

I don't care how much they earn. This is a serious breach of privacy for ANY customer, much less one in the public eye.

Verizon workers need to know they will LOSE THEIR JOBS if they spy on customers.

Period.

[islanbatman]

Your poor Mayor was a fool. He should have let the law take its course. So now hes where others should be. Dumb.