Wal-Mart Eavesdrops on New York Times Reporter

I understand that this sort of activity has happened
before, for which Wal-Mart has been punished.

I hope that Wal-Mart is punished again for such
eavesdropping on private individuals.

Why do all of you dissenters act like Wal-Mart DIRECTED this technician to listen in on the conversations????? 

There was already a Wal-Mart PR person on the line anyway, so what is the difference???

Why do all of you dissenters act like Wal-Mart DIRECTED this technician to listen in on the conversations?????

If Mona tells us the technician “did this on his own” then I guess that’s all there is to it.

Whenever a story surfaces calling into question Wal-Mart’s data gathering and storage practices the pro side rises up and labels it the ravings of whacked out black helicopter conspiracy theorists.

But the fact is, the ominous looking, secure building does exist in northern Arkansas and the 460 terabytes of data stored on Teradata mainframes does exist.

Put this data gathering capability, second only to the Pentagon, in the hands of a man Jon Ogg described as the “Darth Vader” of Corporate America and perhaps a little paranoia is a healthy thing.

How comfortable are you knowing your personal data is in the hands of Lee Scott, a man who “just has the air of a guy that would not think for even a second about having a conscience over any corporate or personal decisions he made”?

Ken

Corporate America already knows all about you. Why do you think you get certain spam in your email inbox? Why do you get certain coupons at home? Why do those particular catalogs come to you? Why do certain car companies send you offers? Because corporate America has you nailed. They know your SS #, your credit, employment, educational and residential histories, your criminal record, your driving record, your public records, what assets you own, whether you’ve ever left the country and where you went, where you shop, what credit cards you use, who you bank with, your account balances, what kind of clothes you wear, what TV channels you watch, what DVDs you rent, what websites you visit, etc. This super efficient system is designed so that businesses can reach their targets without having to waste too much time or money on poor prospects.

As for this Wal-Mart issue:

#1: Arkansas state law permits the monitoring of communications if at least one party knows they are being monitored.

#2: Wal-Mart fired the guilty employee and their immediate supervisor, disciplined another and is cooperating fully with law enforcement.

Is that easy enough for you to understand?

The headline reads, “Wal-Mart Eavesdrops on New York Times Reporter”

This headline would have you believe that Wal-Mart’s ISD Department purposefully set up a wiretap to listen in on a New York Times in hopes of hearing something or gaining information about something.  This headline would have you believe that Wal-Mart was secretly listening in on this reporter and that executives at Wal-Mart knew all about it.

C’mon.

The spinsters are well at work on this blog.  “Spin it, Johnny.  Make it look like Wal-Mart is in the wrong. “

Liberals!!

Because corporate America has you nailed.

Resistance is futile, huh, Ellis? You live in a scarey world.

And you’re right, Michael D, ((((spin)))) as we may this is just another case against Wal-Mart that’s been “turned over to federal investigators”.

Ken V,

Spin is right!!!  You say:

“ ((((spin)))) as we may this is just another case against Wal-Mart that’s been “turned over to federal investigators”.”

First, it is NOT a case AGAINST Wal-Mart, but rather a technician that WORKED FOR Wal-Mart, and

Second, Wal-Mart itself was the one that “turned it over to federal investigators”, after an internal investigation.  It was discovered on Jan 11, and on Jan 13, federal government officials were notified by Wal-Mart.

Please stop spinning, you are getting dizzy!!!

...it is NOT a case AGAINST Wal-Mart, but rather a technician that WORKED FOR Wal-Mart...

It’s starting out that way. Let’s wait and see where it ends up.

I’m sure one of the first things the federal investigators will look at is the idea that the technician “did it on his own”. If so, motive will be interesting.

I guess I’m a little concerned with living in this community and having this go on.  So, text messages were pulled out of the air?  I guess that could of been mine as I drove by the building on I540.  And, I’m wondering why all 3 employees involved did not get fired?  Why did 2 get fired and the Supervisor only got reprimanded.  All parties that knew about the incident should of been let go.

Ken V,

“the idea that the technician “did it on his own”. If so, motive will be interesting”

Have you ever heard of HACKERS?  Why do they do what they do?  What is ‘their’ motive?  Why do people send out viruses?  Most of them, ‘do it on their own’, just to see if they CAN!!!  Gives them something to talk about at the next Party!!!

What kind of equipment/software must the tecnician have to intercept text messages, and phone calls, etc?  Who purchased this equipment?  Why would this equipment be authorized to be purchased by Wal-Mart (I mean, what are they doing with this kind of equipment in their possesion)?  Or is it a case that they used multi-purpose software meant for a different purpose?

If the equipment was purchased BY Wal-Mart, and the results were given TO Wal-Mart, then I feel that Wal-Mart is the one that is ultimately responsible.  I hope the technician and supervisor testify under oath regarding this - It would be very interesting.  I mean, the technician has nothing to lose by lying at this point, since he already lost his job and career.

C’mon, do you really think their spokeswoman would be told to say, “O.K., we were caught, we knew all about it and we had him to do it”??? I’ve dealt personally w/ Wal Mart “spokespeople” and they make twisting words and truths into an art form! And if you try to debate, they turn their backs and walk away!

I guess after reading all of this above, I should just “accept” that corporate GIANTS like Wal-Mart (made by cheap shoppers looking for cheap products made in sweat shops by 11 year old girls) have done “the right thing” by turning over this information to the FBI?  What makes you believe that the government is any better than the Wal-Mart corporation? 

I think our society is just brainwashed and headed for communism!  I say FIGHT BACK!! BOYCOTT WALMART!!

I’m with Ken on this one.  If the technician acted alone then with what motive(s)?  If he acted alone - as WalMart says - then why fire his supervisor, and reprimand another?  Because they are somehow responsible for his independent actions?  If so, then wouldn’t the CEO be responsible - how did the buck stop where it did?  If he acted alone… why didn’t WalMart call the police to have him arrested?  Surely if he is the only culpable party there would be incentive to prevent this “hacker” (as Bob labels him) from going to his home computer on his own recognizance?  Otherwise, I would be lead to believe that WalMart needed those couple of days for some other purpose.  If he acted alone (against WalMart policy or knowledge) then why are they hiding his motive(s)?  In my opinion there are too many things which don’t agree with WalMart’s statement “he acted alone”.

Of course there is one other option…

In response to Nameless’ comments:
Technically, a society controlled by corporations is a fascist state, not a Communist one.  A Communist or socialist state would be one where the state controls all corporations; I’ll grant it’s a fine point, but an important one nonetheless.

You guys are too much. Seriously. When I first saw the articles on what happened, I knew right away you’d distort things to your advantage with no regard for the truth. Sad.

In response to the following quote:

“Why do all of you dissenters act like Wal-Mart DIRECTED this technician to listen in on the conversations????? 

There was already a Wal-Mart PR person on the line anyway, so what is the difference??? “

Michael D. in Connecticut

I think you have left out one important detail of the article, and that is the fact that the “technician” was using sophisticated technology to intercept SMS / Pager transmissions “out of the air”. I think I read somewhere that the “technician” just happened to have personal equipment on hand for just this very purpose. Hmmm… funny that this type of equipment costs anywhere from $ 500,000 to $ 1 Million dollars to acquire. Wal-Mart must really pay the “technicians” extremely well.

Mike

Screw Wal-Mart & Screw Lee Scott They Both Are Against The Working Class People This Is A Dam Disgrace For America And Its People . Wal _ Mart Is A Non Union Son Of A Bitch If Wal Mart Would Go Teamster And Live Up To The Contract With Great Health Care And Great Retirement For All Employees Their Business & Profits Would Increase And The People Of America Would Have Respect For Wal-Mart No One Has Respect For Wal _ Mart When These Nogood Son Of A Bithes Fuck Their Employees And All Of The People That They Do Business With Call Me I Am Pissed
Ray D Dennison 18655 HWY K Aurora Mo. 65605 Cell (417) 773-2220 Call Me .

I hate that Walmart buys from the Chicoms.  They do make the cheapest crap, and that is what Americans want. Never-mind that the $$ we are sending to China is build them a 1st class military.

Screw the unions, and liberal pukes who want to control what everyone else does.  If you are a good worker you can either advance at Walmart, or use your experience to get a better job. Nobody is forced at gunpoint to work for Walmart. 

Socialist dogooders legislating how Walmart does business really pisses me off.  If I ran Walmart, I would close the stores in in states that did this, and let them handle the unemployment claims.

And that is why I believe my grandchildren will speak Chinese. We have no idea what the world bankers have in store for the majority of Americans. Big Pharma medicates us so we can ignore our greed and waste. Banks keep shoving credit cards at us and hollywood distracts us, so we don’t have to think about what we’re doing to the planet.

Public schools have never been so easy, and our kids still drop out. The rest of the world’s children WANT an education. They aren’t brainwashed by advertising and consumerism, so our children will be the easiest to turn into a lower class.

What’s this got to do with Walmart? Everything. Think about it.

No, Mary, you are wrong. America’s failure has to do with a decline in family values, lack of morals, disappearance of personal responsibility and the embracing of stupidity. You really shouldn’t blame Pharma for providing you with lifesaving drugs that take 8-10 years and $500 million-$1 billion each to develop (and 7 of 8 never get FDA approval). You shouldn’t blame banks for giving you credit cards. The banks don’t make you apply for them or use them. You shouldn’t be distracted, as the majority of Americans are, by Hollywood crap. Global warming is a scam, as proven by Al Gore’s recent actions.

Wal-Mart is a scapegoat for union workers who have priced themselves out of the global marketplace. Wal-Mart is a retail store and for some reason, 130 + million Americans shop there each week. If you dislike Wal-Mart, don’t work or shop there. But stop blaming a store for America’s problems.

Blame instead America’s idiocy. No understanding of the Constitution, nor any respect for our traditions or history. Spoiled, indulged children who are not taught respect, manners, discipline or work ethic. A public school system staffed by a powerful teachers union opposed to choice, vouchers, changes in teaching, non-licensed teachers or any type of performance evaluation. Blame Americans more willing to let government run their lives rather than taking on personal responsibility. Blame liberals for watering down our great history, raising taxes, approving of baby killings and running away from a war against Islamic fanatics. Also blame the liberals for the unfunded $50 TRILLION debt we face in the near future.

These are huge problems. They are bigger than Wal-Mart and will go on being problems long after Wal-Mart is gone.

Ellis,

Also, you failed to mention the rising drug use problem, but it was a great post.  Notice how Mary blamed everyone except the people themselves?  Guess it’s part of the SHEEP thing!!

The other day on C-SPAN, a woman said something I agreed with, she said, “You know what A.D.D. is, it’s really short for ‘Absence of Disipline and Direction’!!!” If kids are acting up now-a-days, pop them a PILL.  Most kids I see today, are ‘running the show’ in their families.

I love reading all the pro comments from the Wal Mart lemmings you folks must be LOYAL Wal Mart employees ..

Wal-Mart has been blatently breaking U.S. laws governing workers rights to form unions for as long as they’ve been in buisness.

Wal-Mart has also been working with the Chinese “Dumping” products in the U.S. for years

Wal-Mart used to say “Bringing it home, Made in America” even then most of their merchandise was foriegn made. They were sued for their blatent lies in their advertisments and had to stop using that line.

Wal-Mart has a long history of lies & deciet. Talk about spin!!!

How any American with 1/2 of a working brain can stand up and support Wal-Mart is beyond me. They’ve probably already sold their soul to Wal-Mart.

Why do I have to pay for the healthcare for most Wal-Mart employees?

Because Wal-Mart has actively worked at pushing manufacturing overseas.It isn’t the American people that are at fault, it’s Wal-Mart and other companies like them.

WAL-MART IS AS UN-AMERICAN AS YOU CAN GET THEY HAVE NO LOYALTY TO THE U.S. OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

The head of this former associate’s department, Kenneth Senser, used to be with either the FBI or CIA.  He was named in the article.  If he said find out how the info is being leaked then these associates tried to do what they were told.  Or so it seems.  He was tired of Lee asking him why there were leaks.

I must say this web site provides some very interesting and inciteful reading. I will side with Ellis and Bob on this discussion and add that I suspect that walmart has a dirty tricks/covert ops department and is guilty of many unlawfull deeds yet to be discovered.
Ray D. from Aurora, MO., chill out a little, you’re liable to blow a gasket there old boy! And to Mary in Austin, no matter what medications you may be on you are still responsible for your own actions, don’t blame it on the Pharmas that provide you the medicine you need.