AT&T; Sued on Claims of Privacy Violations

AT&T; Inc. was sued in Texas over claims that the company violated customers’ privacy by providing personal data to the National Security Agency.

The suit was filed in federal court on behalf of AT&T; customers who “have had telephone records divulged by AT&T; to the National Security Agency,” said George & Bros., the Austin law firm that filed the suit.

AT&T;, Verizon Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp. have been under fire since USA Today reported last week that the NSA compiled a database of phone records to search for signs of terrorist activity. Verizon and BellSouth have denied that they assisted in the effort.

A privacy group also sued AT&T; in San Francisco over claims the company violated privacy rights by allowing the NSA to tap into circuits carrying customer’s phone calls and e-mails.

An AT&T; spokesman didn’t return a call seeking comment.