February 04, 2004

By: Yen Hung
Website: http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com

Groups challenge FBI wiretap standards

Leading Internet privacy advocates today asked a federal appeals court to block new rules that would enable the FBI to dictate the design of the nation's communication infrastructure. The challenged rules would enable the Bureau to track the physical locations of cellular phone users and potentially monitor Internet traffic.

In a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) say that the rules -- contained in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision issued last August -- could result in a significant increase in government interception of digital communications.

The court challenge involves the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), a controversial law enacted by Congress in 1994, which requires the telecommunications industry to design its systems in compliance with FBI technical requirements to facilitate electronic surveillance. In negotiations over the last few years, the FBI and industry representatives were unable to agree upon those standards, resulting in the recent FCC ruling. EPIC, ACLU and EFF participated as parties in the FCC proceeding and argued that the privacy rights of Americans must be protected.

Also See: free cellular phones.

Author Notes:

Yen Hung contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com.  A cellular phone industry resource featuring articles, comparisons and reviews of cellular phone and service plans.