Deutsche Telekom investigates spy scandal

Over the weekend, German super carrier Deutsche Telekom said it was launching a full investigation in to allegations of “misuse of call records”.

Chief executive Rene Obermann said that recent findings suggest call record data was abused between 2005 and 2006. It is understood that people within the company had hired an external firm to analyse call records of conversations between board members and the press in a bid to identify the source of numerous leaks.

Call records do not contain the content of a call or conversation, just the participating numbers, times and the duration of the call.

Obermann said the company had already investigated an individual case in the summer of 2007, following a tip-off from within the company and was able to resolve the incident. As a result, Deutsche Telekom reorganised its security department and implemented new control mechanisms.

But Obermann revealed that last month the management board had received information concerning broader and even more serious allegations from a third party commissioned by Deutsche Telekom’s security unit.

“I am shaken to the core by these allegations. We take the situation most seriously. We have called in the public prosecutor’s office and will support them in their full investigation of these allegations,” said Obermann. “By taking this approach we want to ensure the greatest possible level of transparency and allow criminal prosecutors to bring those responsible to justice. In addition, we, the Board of Management together with the General Committee of the Supervisory Board, have tasked an experienced and respected law firm with performing a full investigation of all alleged cases of misuse.”