A Longtime AT&T Customer Fighting for Privacy in a World Full of Leaks, Backdoors, and Surveillance
Via Disruptive Fine Art!
As a loyal AT&T customer for years, I manage a large family account, pay substantial monthly bills, and rely on their services for both personal and business needs. Yet, I find myself fighting for something fundamental: the right to safeguard my privacy.
I already take steps to protect my family’s data, such as using a VPN service at home with a gaming router running OpenVPN, ensuring my ISP cannot track my activity. Yet when I requested AT&T to allow a secondary SIM for privacy reasons when I’m off WiFi, they flat-out refused. This refusal becomes more troubling when viewed alongside AT&T’s history and the broader global context of surveillance abuse and security breaches.
I rent a modem from my cable provider, and they have no issue allowing me to use tools like OpenVPN to secure my network and privacy. If I’m able to protect my data at home while leasing equipment, there should be no difference when it comes to leasing a phone from AT&T. I am paying for the device and the service—yet AT&T refuses to grant me the same control over my mobile privacy that I have over my home internet setup.
Recent warnings from the Department of Defense about vulnerabilities like Chinese backdoors and the well-known insecurity of SMS communication only heighten my concerns. In a world riddled with data breaches, spyware exploits, and backdoors, I have a legitimate need to protect myself and my family. As someone who understands the risks—ranging from AI surveillance tools like Palantir tied to drone systems to foreign states influencing lawmakers—taking control of my digital privacy is not optional; it’s essential.
When I requested AT&T to allow a secondary SIM for privacy reasons when I’m off WiFi, they flat-out refused. This refusal becomes even more troubling when viewed alongside AT&T’s history and the broader global context of surveillance abuse and security breaches.
The Broader Context: AT&T's Troubling Role
NSA Backdoors and Targeting Dissidents
AT&T has long cooperated with government agencies, embedding NSA backdoors into their systems under the guise of "national security." However, these tools have been used not just to monitor threats but to target journalists, political dissidents, and private citizens, eroding civil liberties.Exploding Pagers and Israeli Surveillance Companies
A chilling example of how compromised telecom infrastructure can become weaponized: reports surfaced of exploding pagers injuring Hezbollah members in Lebanon. The ability to remotely manipulate communication devices raises serious questions about the safety of mobile phones and lithium-ion batteries. Companies like Black Cube—an Israeli intelligence firm—further expose the misuse of surveillance. Black Cube, infamously hired by Harvey Weinstein to stalk actresses speaking out about abuse, demonstrates how these tools can be weaponized against individuals.Cambridge Analytica’s Data Exploitation
Disturbingly, the founder of Black Cube was also the largest shareholder in the parent company of Cambridge Analytica, which notoriously harvested the private information of 50 million users. These connections highlight how deeply entwined intelligence operations, corporate interests, and data exploitation have become, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable.The USS Liberty: Weaponized Ignorance
Events like the attack on the USS Liberty, where survivors like Phil Tourney have testified that the ship was clearly marked and flying an American flag, expose decades-long cover-ups. Survivors were threatened with fines, jail, and even death if they spoke out. The USS Liberty incident, compounded by modern revelations of surveillance and backdoors, serves as a stark reminder: political alliances often come at the cost of truth, transparency, and citizens’ safety.Local Law Enforcement Misusing Data
AT&T’s role doesn’t stop at federal surveillance. Local law enforcement agencies also exploit personal data by purchasing location data and private communications—often without warrants. According to Daniel Brummitt, law enforcement bypasses due process using tools that harvest geolocation and social media data. These practices demonstrate how corporations like AT&T enable surveillance abuses at every level, leaving consumers with little to no recourse.
Why It Matters: A Privacy Crisis in Plain Sight
The Salt Typhoon hack, described as the “worst telecom hack in our nation’s history” by Sen. Mark Warner, proves these backdoors are not just theoretical risks. Chinese state-affiliated hackers moved seamlessly across telecom networks, listening in real-time to private calls. The same tools created for “security” were turned against us, compromising individuals and political figures alike.
From NSA surveillance to Black Cube, Pegasus spyware, and now exploding pagers, the pattern is clear: when companies prioritize backdoors and surveillance tools over user privacy, these systems are inevitably weaponized—against all of us. Worse yet, the alarming reality is that a foreign state holds undue influence over our lawmakers, further eroding the accountability and protections that citizens should expect from their own government.
My Personal Experience with AT&T
My concerns are not abstract. I’ve seen firsthand how AT&T’s policies obstruct privacy:
I requested access to a voicemail tied to a Hollywood fixer during a high-profile celebrity case, backed by a legal Power of Attorney, and AT&T still denied my request. Instead of honoring lawful documentation, they stonewalled me—my records likely swept into their broader NSA data-sharing pipeline.
Now, when I request to use a secondary SIM for privacy, they refuse, even as other ISPs allow VPNs and privacy tools without issue.
In the context of constant leaks, surveillance scandals, and companies failing to protect users, why is AT&T obstructing legitimate privacy measures for a loyal customer?
AT&T Customer Service: Lies, Obstruction, and Data Vanishing
AT&T’s customer service behavior raises even more troubling concerns:
Vanishing Transcripts: I downloaded transcripts of my recent support chats, yet they mysteriously vanished from my device. This mirrors what happened when voicemails disappeared during a Hollywood fixer case—despite my legal Power of Attorney. AT&T’s refusal to provide proper access to my data is highly suspicious. Even worse, it’s how they’re handling my requests that raises red flags: customer care representatives are acting shady, dodging questions, providing inconsistent answers, and abruptly ending chats.
Data Shared Without Warrants: AT&T has a record of sharing consumer data freely with local law enforcement without warrants, bypassing legal protections entirely. This isn’t just negligence—it’s deliberate complicity in the erosion of privacy rights.
Car Manufacturers and Data Interception: This issue isn’t isolated to telecom companies. Automakers like General Motors are similarly collecting and storing personal data through infotainment systems. When drivers connect their phones via Bluetooth or USB, the systems access:
Contacts
Call logs
Text messages
App data
This data is often stored locally on the vehicle or transmitted to remote servers, sometimes without explicit consent. Outrageously, a federal judge ruled that this data collection—even without clear harm—does not violate privacy laws. This decision highlights the glaring gaps in consumer protection.
The Bottom Line: My Right to Privacy
As a consumer, I am well within my rights to protect myself and my family’s data. AT&T’s refusal to accommodate a basic request—allowing a secondary SIM for privacy—raises serious concerns:
How can a company with a history of surveillance cooperation justify blocking personal privacy efforts?
Why are tools designed to protect us being turned into vulnerabilities that expose us?
This isn’t paranoia—it's survival. I’m now genuinely scared that asserting my First Amendment rights—or simply taking steps to secure my privacy—could put me at risk. In a world where Palantir, AI-driven drones, and surveillance technologies are weaponized against individuals, I have no interest in being “drone-stroked” or compromised for demanding control over my data.
History proves this is a real concern. From Israel’s attack on the USS Liberty—where American lives were intentionally targeted—to evidence linking Israeli-backed companies to the misuse of spyware, and even whispers of involvement in events like 9/11, the stakes couldn’t be higher. These tools, originally framed as protective, are now being turned against citizens—without oversight or accountability.
The Call to Action: Demand Privacy Accountability
This is bigger than one customer. It’s about the right to digital privacy in an era of backdoors, hacks, and unchecked surveillance. If corporations like AT&T and others continue to act as gatekeepers to our information while profiting off our vulnerabilities, we all lose.
We must demand:
Transparency—full disclosure of how our data is used and shared.
Accountability—companies must be held to account when they obstruct privacy measures.
The Right to Control Our Data—because no one else will protect it.
Final Thought
I’m not asking for much—just the ability to protect myself and my family from systems that history has proven to be dangerously flawed. My request for a secondary SIM and honest access to my records is not unreasonable; it’s essential.
Because in a world where data, drones, and surveillance are weaponized, silence is no longer an option.
Citations:
#Cops Are Buying Your #SocialMedia #LocationData Without A #Warrant, Here’s How To Stop Them.
https://futurism.com/cops-buying-social-media-location-data-without-warrant/
Your Car Can Keep Collecting Your Data After a Judge Dismissed a Privacy Lawsuit
The method used to intercept text messages and call logs in the context of the lawsuits against automakers appears to be through the vehicles' infotainment systems.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/21/salt-typhoon-china-hack-telecom/
https://x.com/patiencezalanga/status/1868362187695395309
https://x.com/winterfire1999/status/1868363867359002674
https://x.com/annalecta/status/994016159795236870
https://x.com/AskYatharth/status/1855741452409876683
https://x.com/gizzmo1414/status/1866472910770294813
https://x.com/davidkurten/status/1836070486570082559
https://x.com/Hazzabrah97/status/1868824264063041674
AT&T Customer Service Failures and Lack of Transparency (Continued)
I recently had a deeply frustrating and concerning experience with AT&T, which has led me to question their transparency and accountability as a company. While my initial request was a straightforward one—to retrieve chat transcripts from previous interactions—the process was marked by repeated failures, evasive behavior, and unhelpful responses that have left me wondering whether AT&T is deliberately hiding something.
AT&T’s Failure to Provide Requested Transcripts
Over the course of 10+ interactions with different AT&T customer service agents, I repeatedly requested transcripts from prior chat sessions. These transcripts were crucial for record-keeping and addressing unresolved issues. Despite multiple assurances from agents that the transcripts would be provided, they were never sent to my email, as promised.
When I attempted to use the AT&T website’s download feature to access the transcripts directly, I encountered another issue: the system falsely indicated that the transcripts were successfully downloaded, but no files appeared on my device. This recurring technical failure not only prevented me from accessing my transcripts but also added to my frustration and suspicion.
What made the situation worse was the agents’ insistence that the transcripts could only be retrieved using a chat ID. However, at no point during my prior interactions was I ever given a chat ID, making this requirement impossible to fulfill. Instead of offering an alternative solution, AT&T’s agents seemed to deflect responsibility, leaving me without the information I needed.
Evasive and Unprofessional Behavior
Throughout this process, the behavior of AT&T’s customer service agents was marked by evasiveness and a lack of professionalism. At multiple points, I felt as though they were deliberately stalling or deflecting rather than genuinely attempting to resolve my issue. The agents frequently repeated the same unhelpful message—that transcripts could not be retrieved without a chat ID—despite my repeated explanation that I had never received one.
One agent explicitly stated, “There is no way to recover the chat without the chat ID,” offering no alternatives or escalation paths. This type of response, coupled with delays and poor communication, only heightened my suspicion that AT&T may have been deliberately withholding information.
Adding to this, some interactions felt outright dismissive and condescending, bordering on trolling. For example, one agent repeatedly sent me on unnecessary loops, asking for information I had already provided multiple times. This level of passive-aggressiveness and refusal to engage seriously with my concerns amplified my frustration and eroded any trust I had left in their support system.
Examples of "Trolling" by AT&T Customer Support
Providing incorrect or irrelevant information: Representatives gave blatantly wrong details about services or plans, forcing me to repeatedly clarify my request.
Sending me on a wild goose chase: Multiple agents directed me through unnecessary departments, knowing the issue could not be resolved in those areas.
Sarcasm or dismissive comments: Some agents made responses that came off as mocking or joking, particularly when I expressed frustration.
Ignoring clear instructions: Despite my repeated explanations, agents continued to ask irrelevant or redundant questions that seemed designed to waste time.
Lack of Accountability and Support from Managers
Even more troubling was the complete lack of support from AT&T’s tech support and management teams. Over the course of my interactions, 10 different agents, including managers, refused to provide meaningful help. Despite being a telecommunications company, AT&T’s own app consistently failed to function as intended, with features like downloading chat transcripts being completely broken. The fact that a company specializing in technology and communications could not resolve this issue—or even offer a workaround—is a glaring indictment of their internal processes and technical expertise.
The managers I interacted with seemed more focused on dismissing my concerns than addressing them. Instead of acknowledging the app’s flaws and taking steps to resolve the issue, they reiterated the same unhelpful instructions, leaving me to deal with the problem on my own. This lack of accountability from a company of AT&T’s size and reputation is deeply concerning.
Growing Suspicion
While the data breach issue was not the original reason I contacted AT&T, it added to my growing suspicion about their behavior. Given the widely reported breach of AT&T’s systems—which exposed sensitive customer data, including call logs and private communications—I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a connection between their inability to provide my transcripts and potential issues with their internal systems.
The deliberate-seeming obfuscation and failure to address my concerns left me questioning whether AT&T’s actions go beyond simple negligence. Was the company attempting to cover up something more serious? This lack of transparency has shaken my trust in AT&T and raised broader concerns about their accountability as a company.
Potential Solutions for Chat Transcript Download Issues
If your AT&T app chat transcripts aren't downloading, according to discussions on Reddit, the most likely causes are: network issues, app glitches, incorrect settings regarding data usage, or a problem with the AT&T server itself. You should try restarting your device, checking your internet connection, ensuring the app has permission to access data, and contacting AT&T support if the issue persists.
Potential solutions based on Reddit threads:
Check your network connection: Make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi or cellular signal.
Restart your device and app: Close the AT&T app completely and reopen it after restarting your phone.
Check data usage settings: Verify that your AT&T app has permission to access mobile data in your phone settings.
Update the AT&T app: Ensure you are using the latest version of the app.
Clear app cache and data: Go into your phone's settings, find the AT&T app, and clear the cache and data.
Sign out and back in: Log out of the AT&T app and log back in again.
Contact AT&T support: If none of the above solutions work, reach out to AT&T customer service to report the issue and check for any server-side problems.
Conclusion
AT&T’s behavior in this matter goes beyond poor customer service. Their repeated failure to provide transcripts, coupled with evasive and unprofessional responses—and at times trolling—suggests deeper issues within the company’s internal processes. The fact that such a large and established company cannot resolve a seemingly simple request raises serious questions about their transparency and integrity.
I am urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate AT&T’s practices regarding customer service and accountability. Consumers deserve better than this, and AT&T must be held responsible for their failures.
If you’ve experienced similar issues with AT&T, I encourage you to speak out and demand accountability. No company should be allowed to treat its customers with such disregard, especially when it comes to transparency and the handling of sensitive information.
Download chat Transcript, only to find 'No transcript found'