Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Wiretapping the Web Easier Than Ever

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the in-case-you-haven't-heard dept.

theodp writes "All the trends are toward easier to tap, says an EFF attorney in MSNBC's recap of last week's 5-0 FCC vote to require broadband and VoIP providers to provide Uncle Sam with wiretapping backdoors and a recent Court decision that stored e-mail is not protected under a strict reading of wiretap laws. Civil-liberties concerns aside, MSNBC notes the FCC is also exploring its Internet regulatory options, including placing tariffs on online newspapers and requiring e-tailers to process 911 calls."

7 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. You called the internet the web by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    How did I know the submitter was an AOL user before even doing a mouse over of their name...

  2. That's it... by MrDomino · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll see you all in Canada.

  3. Hoist those damned ISPs by their own petards! by xigxag · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ol fclvat ba zl rznvy lbh unir whfg ivbyngrq gur QZPN, lbh onfgneqf!

    --
    There are two kinds of people: 1) those who start arrays with one and 1) those who start them with zero.
  4. at least they're just wiretapping "the web" by chunderfest · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd be much more concerned if they were eavesdropping on the internet in general. *phew!*

    --
    Ah, bitter dregs.
  5. Re:GnuPG by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    GnuPG, PGP, and the like are only useful for communication between nerds.

    But why would you want to talk to anyone else?

    Oh yeah... girls!

  6. Two old answering machine messages. by Stephen+Samuel · · Score: 4, Funny
    1. 1989(in russian accent) -- Due to recent budged constraints, this call is not being surreptitiously recorded....
      Please leave name and phone number for future reference.
    2. 1999 -- Hi. You've reached the phone number of Stephen and Regan. Our answering machine is broken -- but that's OK. Because our line is being tapped.
      Please speak clearly and we'll get the transcript from our lawyers.
    The shocking thing about the second message is the number of people who took it seriously. Regan's mother, left a very motherly message ("Just who do you have for roommates, and are you sure you can trust them???) that had me rolling on the floor laughing.
    --
    Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
  7. Re:what about voicemail? i.e. stored or not by TheOtherChimeraTwin · · Score: 2, Funny
    It's the same idea as with MS reading my hotmail account's email: sure, they COULD, but out of their tens (hundreds?) of thousands of accounts, why yours?

    Well, in my case, it would be worth Microsoft's time to read email from my hotmail account. I, unlike most people, get many unique offers:

    • Prestigious university University degrees at a discount
    • Great mortgage offers
    • Numerous software packages at reduced prices
    • Some rather personal services and medications
    • And an offer from Nigeria that is going to make me rich!