{{Vodafone has said that a small number of governments have direct access to communications flowing over its networks.}}
Most countries Vodafone operates in need a warrant to intercept communications, the firm said.
However, in some countries police have a direct link to customer’s phone calls and web communications.
Surveillance by governments has been in the public eye since revelations by US whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Vodafone said it values customer privacy, but it must comply with laws “designed to protect national security and public safety”.
In most of the 29 countries where Vodafone has major operations, including the UK, law enforcement and intelligence agencies must have a warrant to listen to phone calls or look at text messages, emails or web chats.
The firm said it could not specify the countries that have a direct line into its networks, because those countries have laws prohibiting disclosure of surveillance methods.
In six out of the 29 countries, governments have a permanent link to monitor communications.
In its first-ever transparency report, Vodafone said that in a small number of countries, it “will not receive any form of demand for lawful interception access, as the relevant agencies and authorities already have permanent access to customer communications via their own direct link”.
Human rights campaign organisation Liberty called the government powers “terrifying”.
Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, said: “For governments to access phone calls at the flick of a switch is unprecedented and terrifying.
“The defeated Snoopers’ Charter tried to take us down this path, but Snowden revealed the internet was already treated as fair game. Bluster that all is well is wearing pretty thin – our analogue laws need a digital overhaul.”
wirestory
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