Verizon sacks Obama snoopers

What did the snoopers see, and when did they see it?

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Mobile, 24th November 2008 10:21 GMT

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Verizon Wireless has sacked the workers who had a cheeky look at president-elect Barack Obama's mobile phone records.

The company originally suspended all the staff it suspected of having access to the records. The workers had access to call logs, times and phone numbers dialled but could not read text messages or listen to voicemails.

"This was some employees' idle curiosity." a Verizon source told CNN.

Obama no longer uses the phone, which has been inactive for some months. It was a straight voice and text phone, not a BlackBerry or other email device.

Verizon Wireless is continuing an investigation into whether any information was shared outside the company.

This is the second telecoms related setback for Obama in a week. It emerged last week that the prez in waiting may have to give up his beloved BlackBerry, due to US rules on opening up the White House correspondence to the public.®

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