AT&T is retroactively claiming to own its customers' information, a gross violation of privacy and business ethics.

AT&T has a Better Business Bureau privacy seal on their WorldNet page (above right), which doesn't seem to fit with their involvement in illegal government surveillance.

The Better Business Bureau, however, states in their threshold of eligibility document that the following are requirements to posess their seal:

Theshold Eligibility

2. Your organization must be engaged in activity that is legal, and ... may not... engage in any activity that lessens the BBBOnLine Privacy Program's ability to promote trust and confidence on the Internet.

Collecting & Maintaining Information

4. If you collect and maintain personally identifiable information or prospect information, the computer equipment in which such information is stored, and any other copy of such information, must be located in an appropriately secure physical environment that includes doors, locks, etc. to keep unauthorized individuals from accessing the information.

5. If you collect and maintain personally identifiable information or prospect information, you must have appropriate security measures in place to prevent unauthorized electronic access to personally identifiable information or prospect information.

The Better Business Bureau online can be reached at 703-276-0100.

You can comment on their endorsement of AT&T via their contact form.