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German Telecom Spying Ignites Privacy Uproar

Internal tracing of press leaks leads to calls for government probe

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted May 27, 2008 4:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – German phone giant Deutsche Telekom has ignited a privacy firestorm by admitting it tracked board members’ phone calls to root out the source of embarrassing press leaks. The dominant national fixed-line provider revealed “severe and far-reaching” misuse of private information, generating anger in a country sensitive to civil liberties abuses, the New York Times reports.

The breaches came after the security department hired an outside firm to monitor contacts between board members and reporters in 2005 and 2006, when the company saw many layoffs. The snoopers did not listen to the calls. Prosecutors are now looking in to the matter; the government, which controls 32% of the company, characterized the spying as a “serious breach of trust.”

CEO Rene Obermann, left, and new chairman of the director's board Ulrich Lehner smile during the annual shareholders meeting.
CEO Rene Obermann, left, and new chairman of the director's board Ulrich Lehner smile during the annual shareholders meeting.   (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
General View during the annual shareholders meeting of the communication company Deutsche Telekom in Cologne, western Germany, Thursday May 15, 2008.
General View during the annual shareholders meeting of the communication company Deutsche Telekom in Cologne, western Germany, Thursday May 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
A Feb. 28, 2008 file photo shows the logo of Deutsche Telekom at the headquarters in Bonn, western Germany.
A Feb. 28, 2008 file photo shows the logo of Deutsche Telekom at the headquarters in Bonn, western Germany.   (AP Photo)
Rene Obermann, CEO of German telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom...
Rene Obermann, CEO of German telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom...   (Getty Images (by Event))
Fairgoers walk past a logo of German telecommunications giant...
Fairgoers walk past a logo of German telecommunications giant...   (Getty Images)
Fairgoers walk past a logo of German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom.
Fairgoers walk past a logo of German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom.   (Getty Images)
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