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Court Battle Over Internet Calls

Posted by samzenpus on from the tap-out dept.

koweja writes "The federal appeals court has is hearing a petition to overturn an FCC rule that extends current wire-tapping laws to cover VoIP calls. The petition comes from various privacy advocacy groups, including the Center for Democracy and Technology. Aside from the obvious privacy issues, the rule requires that providers use equipment that allows wiretaps, which would require many companies to "upgrade" in order to comply."

3 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Skype by mboverload · · Score: 4, Insightful

    With a system like Skype, which uses P2P for calls, how would this work?

    I'm kind of ok with wiretapping, just as long as there ISN'T A BACKDOOR. I don't care what they say, a backdoor into anything is a bad idea.

  2. Oh beaurocrats, you so crazy by JustADude · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I feel safer already. Bob Terrorist can send coded messages just about any way he wants to get around this (the apocryphal "coded eBay auction" stories, PGP or any number of other encryption standards, smoke signals, fucking microfiche under a stamp), but the feds can listen to mom swapping corn muffin recipes. Anyone else get the feeling the only "terrorists" caught this way will be the ones too stupid to have really caused any damage to begin with?

    The world is once again safe for democracy.

    Cheers.

  3. Re:But why... by ornil · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Don't laugh, it's a good question. If the wiretapping law is good it should apply to all. If it's bad, go lobby and vote to change it. Making exception for VOIP makes no sense.