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FCC Asks For Comments On Internet Wiretapping

Posted by timothy on from the or-you-can-just-whisper dept.

SECURITY GURU writes "Security Focus has posted a story about The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launching a public comment period on its plan to compel Internet broadband and VoIP providers to open their networks up to easy surveillance by law enforcement agencies. The 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), a federal law that mandates surveillance backdoors in U.S. telephone networks, is what would allow the FBI to start listening in on Internet communications. The EFF, ACLU, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center all opposed the plan, and an ACLU letter-drive generated hundreds of mailings from citizens against what the group called 'the New Ashcroft Internet Snooping Request.' If you have a comment on why you don't want the governemnt reading your email please post it here. All comments are due by November 8th."

4 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. Why not? by Seeth42 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, if Ashcroft wants to read all my spam before I can purge it, can I get an ammendment to the act to allow them to delete it for me?

  2. FCC Attachment Upload by Nuclear+Elephant · · Score: 3, Funny

    Send Comment Files to FCC (Attachments)

    BAD idea. I wonder how much ASCII Donkey pr0n they're going to get.

  3. Feedback To Government by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you have a comment on why you don't want the governemnt reading your email please post it here.

    Or simply email your comment to a friend ;-)

  4. Re:No reason for alarm by Tackhead · · Score: 3, Funny
    > Hmm... Let's see here. Name, Address, Email, and Phone. Yeah okay, filled out. After all, when the German government required registration for gun owners in 1938, they didn't immediately turn around and seek those people out when they banned guns. Err wait.

    At the moment, they need your name, address, email, and phone number, and it's a disincentive for the public to participate - your post being a prime example.

    Which is why a wiretapped society could be good for democracy. You see, after they've tapped the 'net, you won't have to enter any identifying details. Ideally, you won't even have to fill out a form. When they want your opinion, they'll be able to just pull it out of the database!