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Federal Judge: Keystroke Logging Isn't Wiretapping

Posted by timothy on from the not-covered-under-existing-law dept.

TospenJ writes "A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed wiretapping charges against a California man who used a hardware keystroke logger to spy on his employer, SecurityFocus is reporting. The court ruled that the device doesn't violate the federal Wiretap Act because it only intercepted signals off a keyboard cable, not an interstate network. The government is asking for reconsideration. Ironically, the judge relied in part on the Scarfo precedent, which allowed the FBI to use such a keylogger without a wiretap warrant."

4 of 301 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Wire by bsartist · · Score: 3, Informative

    You understand the word wire just fine - you do not understand the word federal. Federal law applies if the wire crosses state lines - so if your PC is in California and your keyboard in Nevada, federal wiretap law would apply.

    Note that the judge specifically stated that the federal law does not apply here - if California has any laws regarding wire tapping, those still might apply.

    --
    Lost: Sig, white with black letters. No collar. Reward if found!
  2. Re:Ironic? by tsm_sf · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yeah, pretty logical too. A key logger isn't a sniffer.

    It's not up to the judge to (in a case like this) rule on the moral guilt of the defendant, but just to determine if they've broken the applicible law. Now is when we'd see the legislative branch of our government swing into action, were it not populated by scum-sucking filth.

    --
    Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
  3. Your sig needs revising, somehow. by farmhick · · Score: 2, Informative

    First off, Dr. Spock was the doctor in the US in the 1950's who wrote books on how to raise children. He might have heard the term 'stardate', and maybe even knew what it referred to. However, I doubt he will be making quotes when 'stardate 2822.3' rolls around. Having died in 1998 and all.

    Now if you meant Mr. Spock, first officer of the starship USS Enterprise, also know as NCC-1701, I still doubt you are being accurate. After all why would a Vulcan find it enlightening to quote a Jedi Master? Especially one who existed long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

    --
    I have to stop wasting so much time reading Slashdot. It's interfering with my crystal meth addiction.
  4. From thinkgeek.com by mansa · · Score: 2, Informative

    In case you were looking, here's the device.

    Have fun with your self-styled "security experts" at work!