The Vodafone Group has published a report disclosing its involvement in government surveillance of subscribers to its various operators in 29 markets which have received a “lawful demand for assistance from a law enforcement agency or government authority” in the past year.

Where the telco is able to share the information, the report gives the number of warrants for lawful interception – what used to be known as a wiretap – that its businesses in each country have received since April 2013. These numbers are as high as 7,677 in the Czech Republic, and its worth noting that each warrants can cover a number of targets. For a full rundown, see pages 74-80 of the report here.

In six of these markets, however, government agencies and authorities have “permanent access to customer communications via their own direct link”, essentially removing Vodafone from the equation.

Full disclosure?
Vodafone says the report is intended to clear up “the role of communications operators such as Vodafone in support of those activities”.

“Our customers have a right to privacy which is enshrined in international human rights law and standards and enacted through national laws,” reads the report. “Respecting that right is one of our highest priorities: it is integral to the Vodafone Code of Conduct which everyone who works for us has to follow at all times.

“However, in every country in which we operate, we have to abide by the laws of those countries which require us to disclose information about our customers to law enforcement agencies or other government authorities, or to block or restrict access to certain services.”