The (EFF) filed a class-action lawsuit,, against the company on January 31, 2006, accusing the telecommunication company of violating the law and the privacy of its customers by collaborating with the (NSA) in a massive, illegal program to and Americans' communications. On July 20, 2006, a federal judge denied the government's and AT&T's motions to dismiss the case, chiefly on the ground of the.