Boston, MA 06/11/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Vodafone Group PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) angered a number of privacy advocates after stating that a number of governments have the ability to tap directly into its network. The second largest carrier also pointed how governments normally request personal data about some users for law enforcement and national security. The company admitted that it had received requests from over 29 countries in 12 months through to March 31.
Vodafone Refuses to Name Countries with Direct Access
The report titled Privacy report also outlined how certain countries governments had direct access to its network without necessarily having to seek legal warrants. Vodafone pointed out in the report how it would not receive any form of demand for data access by certain agencies as they already have a direct link to whatever customer data they need.
Vodafone has refused to name the countries that have direct access to its network. The countries are reported to have the ability to listen to various phone calls, as well as read text messages. Vodafone refuses to name the countries as doing so will put employees and business in those places at greater risk.
Vodafone Complying to Protect Licenses
Vodafone maintains it has to cooperate with these countries with direct access as not doing so, will mostly result in them loosing operating licenses. Privacy advocates are opposed to the countries having direct access without needing to justify what they intend to do with data. Vodafone Group PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) maintains that governments should discourage its agencies and authorities from seeking data behind their backs.
Individual spying continues to be a biting topic after Edward J Snowden revealed how American and British agencies carry out spying operations. European Union looks to be heading to privacy advocates concerns on privacy issues although it has little or no powers to intercede on National Security matters.
Vodafone Group PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) privacy report follows AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) analysis on the number of data request they have received from the U.S government.
