FBI wants Internet wiretap option

The FBI is forging ahead in its push for U.S. laws that would allow the agency to wiretap social networking sites and other providers of Internet communications, just as email and instant messaging, according to CNET.com.

FBI Director Robert Mueller confirmed while a congressional hearing this week that the FBI for all that wants an Internet wiretap law, nevertheless he did not say when the Obama administration would present a proposal.

The explosion of online communications as more Americans rely less on traditional wire line telephones has made it harder to keep track of illegal activities, the FBI argues. The agency wants providers of Internet-based devices and service providers to install back doors for government eavesdropping.

The FBI’s proposal

The FBI’s proposal would amend a 1994 law, called the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, or CALEA, that currently applies only to telecommunications providers, not Web companies. From the FBI’s perspective, expanding CALEA to cover VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), Web e-mail, and social networks isn’t expanding wiretapping law: If a court order is required today, one will be required tomorrow as then. In other words, it’s making sure that a wiretap is guaranteed to produce results.

Governments around globe have increased surveillance of online communications in response to pro-democracy demonstrations fueled in large part by instant communications via Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites.

They should be allowed to check people out if they have cause, however not without a court order. To me the internet communication is at heart the same as telephone services, with more bells and whistles. People’s right to privacy should be at heart the same online.

They WANT to tap e-mail? They already DO. They have for many years. It’s called Echelon and they already have access to every single internet communication.

The FBI should be able to monitor people’s email

I agree that the FBI should be able to monitor people’s email and social network sites however ONLY if the person in question is suspect to breaking the law IE pedophilia or terrorism and ONLY with a court order! Law abiding citizens should not be scrutinized by the government if they haven’t broken the law!

Why would you worry? Do you have something to hide? Keep it clean and keep business open and honest! The government should be able to look all they want nevertheless they should stop telling everyone what they are doing. How are you going to keep the country secure if everyone knows what you are doing? Get real! Just do what you have to do to protect the country and its people!

S, I appreciate your jaded response, nevertheless it’s an over-generalization. Here’s why. 9/11 did change things. Yet you’re discounting several other factors, chiefly that the ubiquity of instantaneous communication, a centralized, global Internet and a steady and accelerating shift to the right and privatization of our shared interests.

The Internet

Moving back to the Internet, it’s simply another tool that can be exploited by law enforcement. Or rather than viewing 9/11 as a paradigm shift in itself, it should be viewed as affirmation of the security state that’s been active for decades. For instance, the FBI worked tirelessly to deport John Lennon. There wasn’t an Internet at the time, however he was seen as subversive and a threat. As a result, he was followed, his phones were tapped and they spied on him. Ah, paranoia!

It it happens it will be while an Obama or democratic administration.There was talk that Obama wanted to be able to shut down the internet while a national emergency.We are slowly becoming the new red china..

[...] FBI wants Internet wiretap option The FBI is forging ahead in its push for US laws that would allow the agency to wiretap social networking sites and other providers of Internet communications, just as email and instant messaging, according to CNET.com. FBI Director Robert Mueller … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]

What a pack of alarmists

What a pack of alarmists. If you’re not doing anything you shouldn’t be doing you should have no worries if the FBI looks in on your transmissions. It’s the price we have to pay to keep us safe, unfortunately. And if you think moving to another country is going to solve your problem, think again. One day electronic communications the world over will have to be monitored when required.

And in short, the ONLY reason the FBI would even consider monitoring your internet transmissions is if you’ve give them a very good reason to.