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NY Times on VoIP, Skype Profile and the FBI

Posted by Hemos on from the the-next-big-thing? dept.

securitas writes "The New York Times Business section published a longish profile of P2P VoIP startup Skype, founded by the people that brought you P2P file-sharing client Kazaa. Previously the domain of geeks everywhere, this is significant if only because it seems to signal that VoIP is starting to garner mainstream consumer interest and serious business interest. The article discusses Vonage and a Daiwa Securities telecom report that says Skype 'is something to be scared of, and is probably set to become the biggest story of the year.' Critics dismiss it as hype. But Skype faces a potential court battle with the FBI. 'Because traffic over Skype is strongly encrypted and distributed over wide-ranging sources, it could hamper authorities' ability to wiretap.' An FBI spokesman says, '... it is something that we are looking into.' Of course last week's Minnesota federal court ruling that exempts VoIP from traditional telecom legislation doesn't hurt the case for VoIP. The text of the ruling is expected to be available this week. Read the previous Slashdot stories on Skype and the Vonage vs Minnesota case for some background."

5 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Whoring-free reg-free link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Support anti-karma-whoring, click this reg-free NYT link today!

  2. Re:Wait a minute... by Malor · · Score: 3, Informative
    The article's lead-in was deliberately inflammatory. The actual quote was:

    Paul Bresson, an F.B.I. spokesman, said, "It is legal; it is a concern; and it is something that we are looking into."

    This is journalism of the caliber of talk radio; leaving out the important part "it is legal" to highlight the dreaded imminent threat. Probably helped get it chosen as a story, since putting one to the Feds is always popular in the geek crowd, but it's still irresponsible.

  3. Re:Privacy first. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    I guess it started in 1968 with the "Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act" and then electronic communication was added in 1986 with the "Electronic Communications Privacy Act." Most recently the "Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994 ... requires carriers to design or modify their systems to ensure that lawfully-authorized electronic surveillance can be performed."

    Does that answer your question? Please provide relevant laws for your so called "right of privacy." Don't bother saying the Constitution because even the fourth amendment allows for "no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

    Now these new laws that skip that last step are bullshit but wiretapping with legitimate writs is fine.

  4. Re:And would you buy a used car from Kazaa? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    To my knowledge Bluemoon Interactive (The programmers www.bluemoon.ee) did not create the spyware software, only the FastTrack network. I don't like my countrymates being shown in a bad reputation >:o

  5. Freeware VoIP Programs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Here are some VoIP programs that are Spyware & Adware free.

    Dharma Phone
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    Personal Internet Phone Equipment (PIPE) 1.4
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    Internet Call
    http://www.geocities.com/goofball_express/In ternet Call.html

    PGPfone 1.0b2
    http://www.pgpi.org/products/pgpfone