SAN FRANCISCO, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- We asked the judge to dismiss this lawsuit based on a series of statutory and common law immunities that exempt corporations from civil lawsuits which contain claims or allegations that the companies cooperated with government or law enforcement agencies regarding national security matters.

These provisions make it clear that, even if AT&T were acting as alleged, AT&T cannot be sued, as the real dispute is with the government. Congress gave companies this immunity to ensure their cooperation with critical national security issues.

Additionally, the U.S. government has expressly told us that the law does not allow AT&T to comment in any way on these specific allegations involving national security. To do so would be breaking the law.

Ultimately, the Electronic Frontier Foundation is suing the wrong party. Their issue is with the government.

There has been a lot of speculation on this issue, but the fact is, AT&T does not provide customer information to law enforcement authorities or government agencies without legal authorization.

We prize the trust our customers place in us and, in all instances, AT&T obeys the law.

CONTACT: Walt Sharp of AT&T, +1-210-351-3349