Corporate accountability does not come easily to AT&T. The corporation's cozy relationship with the NSA prompted a lawsuit (discussed here) seeking redress for violations of customer privacy. Concerned about corporate decisions that harm customers and the corporation, shareholders are asking management to answer some questions.

[Shareholders have] introduced a resolution for consideration at AT&T's stockholder meeting in April. It asks the company's management to explain what steps it is taking to ensure customer privacy and to disclose how much money it has spent on collaborating with the NSA program.

Management has no interest in being held accountable.

AT&T is asking the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for permission to exclude the resolution from its proxy statement, claiming it would interfere with business and the company should not have to divulge information because of state secrets privileges, according to a statement released by the groups pushing for the resolution.