Supreme Court Says AT&T Not Exempt From FOIA
How is it the allegedly oh so conservative court failed to rule in favor of a huge corporation? Please note this was a unanimous decision, so that includes Justice “silent” Thomas. Justice Thomas is said by his critics to roll over for corporations. Maybe some critics have to re think their assumptions.
Corporations don’t reap the same privacy protections as do people, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday.
The court, with Justice Elena Kagan recused, said AT&T did not enjoy the “personal privacy” provision of the Freedom of Information Act as the telecom had claimed. The act exempts the government from publicly disclosing law enforcement records if they “constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
The case concerns trade group CompTel’s FOIA request in 2005 for records AT&T forwarded to the FCC’s enforcement bureau concerning AT&T’s admitted overpricing of telecom equipment and services to Connecticut schools under the graft-ridden E-Rate program.