As telephone conversations have moved to the Internet, so have those who want to listen in... • The advent of computer-based telephone switches and the Internet has made it more difficult for the government to monitor the communications of criminals, spies and terrorists.
• Federal agencies want Internet companies to comply with the same wiretapping requirements that apply to telecommunications carriers. This proposal, though, may stifle Internet innovation.
• Furthermore, the new surveillance facilities might be misused by overzealous government officials or hijacked by terrorists or spies interested in monitoring U.S. communications.
A Brief History of Wiretapping
To understand the current controversy over wiretapping, one must understand the history of communications technology. (more) (more) (more) (more)
