AT&T says it doesn't have to disclose NSA dealings

AT&T says it isn't required to disclose to shareholders what it does with customers' communications data despite complaints that the telecom giant has been sharing and selling that information to federal intelligence agencies including the National Security Agency.

In a letter sent Thursday to the Securities and Exchange Commission, AT&T said it protects customer information and complies with government requests for records "only to the extent required by law."

AT&T's letter was a response to a Nov. 20 shareholder revolt sparked by the New York State Common Retirement Fund, the ACLU of Northern California and others. The groups are demanding that AT&T and Verizon be more transparent about their dealings with the NSA.

Nicole Ozer of the ACLU says "it's outrageous that AT&T is trying to block the shareholder proposal."