The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a class-action lawsuit against AT&T on January 31, 2006, accusing the telecom giant of violating the law and the privacy of its customers by collaborating with the National Security Agency (NSA) in its massive, illegal program to wiretap and data-mine Americans' communications.

Where the Case Stands Now

Telecom Immunity: In June of 2008, at the insistence of President Bush, Congress passed the FISA Amendments Act (FAA). In addition to broadly expanding the president's spying powers, the bill essentially granted immunity to telecoms alleged to have participated in the warrantless wiretapping program — a clear attempt to shield the president's illegal spying program from examination in a court of law.

EFF believes the FAA is unconstitutional, and we are fighting back on multiple fronts. We are urging Congress to repeal the FAA in the next session, asking the courts to reject the immunity provisions as unconstitutional, and developing a new case against the government.

This is the Intervenor New York Times Joinder.