Fired Wal-Mart Technician Alleges Extensive Wal-Mart Spy Operation / Huff Post

[shance]

A fired Wal-Mart technician alleged the world's largest retailer has been spying on its workers, critics, vendors and consultants. The company defended its security practices.

Wal-Mart declined to comment on specific allegations made by 19-year veteran Bruce Gabbard to the Wall Street Journal in a report published Wednesday.

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Gabbard was fired after recording phone calls to and from a New York Times reporter and intercepting pager messages.

Wal-Mart made the case public last month and denied Gabbard's claims that his actions were the result of pressure from Kenneth Senser, a former senior CIA and FBI official who has headed Wal-Mart's office of global security since 2003. Another FBI veteran, Joseph Lewis, is head of corporate investigations under Senser.

Gabbard did not work for Senser's department, although the company and others familiar with the case said Senser has the authority to work with staff from other divisions in carrying out investigations. Gabbard has said he felt pressured by Senser to find information leaks, while Wal-Mart has denied that those conversations alleged by Gabbard took place.

Gabbard and his former supervisor, Jason Hamilton, who was also fired, have declined repeated requests from The Associated Press to talk about their security activities.

But in a text message to The Associated Press Wednesday, Gabbard confirmed the allegations that he was part of a broader surveillance operation approved by the company. The team, the Threat Research and Analysis Group, was a unit of Wal-Mart's Information Systems Division.

"I can confirm everything in the WSJ story is correct except the glass wall comment which I didn't make," Gabbard wrote, referring to a description of the Threat Group's glass-enclosed work area at Wal-Mart's Bentonville, Arkansas, headquarters.

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The company also used software programs to read e-mails sent by workers using private e-mail accounts whenever they were hooked up to the Wal-Mart computer network, he said.

More at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/04/04/fired-technician-alleges-_n_45037.html

AP Business Writer Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report.

[Blackhatjack]

1. Now you know why WalMart is 'warming up' to Democrats for the next election....

Walmart has engaged in lots of questionable activities and it is always best to be 'friendly' with those in power who hold the reins of possible investigations.

The whole WalMart-China connection has national security implications written all over it.

Hope Democrats will not allow money to deter them from investigating the 800 lb gorilla of world commerce and influence.

[Virginia Dare]

2. Wal-Mart is actually actively engaged in undermining our security...

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/8942/1/142/

[shance]

3. Yikes. "Wal-Mart Blocks Port Security"?

What kind of American company blocks port security?