In Terrorism Fight, Government Finds a Surprising Ally: FedEx

Thursday, May 26th, 2005

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? In Terrorism Fight, Government Finds a Surprising Ally: FedEx:

Before Sept. 11, 2001, when federal law-enforcement officials asked FedEx Corp. for help, the company had its limits. It wouldn’t provide access to its databases. It often refused to lend uniforms or delivery trucks to agents for undercover operations, citing fears of retribution against employees as well as concerns about customer privacy.

Then came the attacks on New York and Washington and pleas from the government for private-sector help in fighting terrorism. Suddenly, the king of overnight delivery became one of homeland security’s best friends.

FedEx has opened the international portion of its databases, including credit-card details, to government officials.

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