Verizon Fires Workers For Looking At Obama's Cell Phone Records

CNN Political Ticker:

Verizon Wireless has fired employees connected with a breach of records from a cell phone used earlier this year by President-elect Barack Obama, a Verizon source told CNN Friday.

The source would not say how many people were terminated, but said that "we now consider this matter closed."

Read the whole story: CNN Political Ticker

Comments

[LeonBNJ]

Those disiplined or fired may have serious issues as to getting another job due to their improper behaviors. I don't think a future employer will like the question on 'why did you leave Verizon' answered by saying that they did so because they had improperly looked at the customer records of a canidate for public office.
I have worked in law for about 30 years as a legal assistant, trusted with very personal information on individuals and businesses that cannot be disclosed under penalty of law. I know if I disclosed such information I could face criminal penalties, my life and finances ruined. These people at Verizon had the same responsibilty, they violated it and now face penalites for their breeches.

[artnlife]

So the government officials can spy on us with immunity and not be FIRED. The Verizon workers are just doing company policy but on a much lower level...IT'S THE COMPANY'S POLICY IN TANDEM WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO SPY ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. ...(sigh). Pick on the little people.

[artnlife]

WITH IMPUNITY...not immunity

[WoodyCPM]

Exactly. Great to see someone else here get the connection between this behavior and the spying and wiretapping of ALL AMericans phone lines and conversations that Verizon participated in under Bush's surveillance program. Why is it that everyone assumes those looking at Obama's records were right wing conservatives? It ain't necessarily so.

[bmwracer]

The GOP will be giving these ex-employees a call, I'll bet.

[WoodyCPM]

Why do you assume the employees were motivated for political purposes? Do we know that at this point?

[CaliforniaJake]

Accessing Obama's cell phone records is an invasion of privacy. Prosecute them.

[WoodyCPM]

Start with the executives. They've spied on you far more than their lower level employees have. I would hazard a guess here that these employees were simply engaging in the same behavior that had been sanctioned by the Bush Administration earlier. They may in fact have been the same employees who assisted Bush in his spying on EVERYONE!

[BuzzingAlong]

Wonder how many of these fired Verizon employees are relatives, friends and cohorts of the Reich-wingers?

Why else would they be interested in these telephone numbers?

[thebanana]

Good call by Verizon.