AT&T Won't Block Black Hat Eavesdropping Demo

snydeq writes "AT&T says it won't interfere with a highly anticipated talk on intercepting cell phone calls at the Black Hat conference this week. Hacker Chris Paget last week said that he plans to demonstrate on Saturday how to set up what's essentially a fake cell tower that allows him listen in on nearby mobile calls. But Tuesday, he wrote on his blog that he had 'heard that AT&T may be considering suing me to stop my talk.' AT&T, however, has insisted it has no plans to interfere with the talk."

Comments

AT&T Doesn't Care

[OverlordQ]

But what about the types of people that actually enforce the wiretapping and interception laws?

Re:AT&T Doesn't Care

[Nikker]

As long as he only uses an informed and willing volunteer over a private connection would this demonstration really come under wiretapping laws? If they are going to send it through speakers infront of a crowd it would be more like an elaborate microphone than anything else.

Ya forget AT&T, ask the FBI

[Sycraft-fu]

I'm still not very convinced this is legal, and you want to be sure. While they might well say "It isn't like he caused any harm, just let it slide," they also might now. The law is the law and all that. Plus maybe some company pressures them in to it. Some provider who gets mad says "Hey, you need to charge this guy, he broke wiretapping laws!"

When you are doing something all on your own equipment in a controlled environment, then sure you are good to go. So having a lab with what you need and trying it on your own stuff, that is legal. However intercepting random people in the area of your tower? Don't think that is legal, doesn't matter if you are doing it as a demonstration or not.

Re:Ya forget AT&T, ask the FBI

[msauve]

"I'm still not very convinced this is legal...So having a lab with what you need and trying it on your own stuff, that is legal."

It's definitely NOT legal. If nothing else, he'll be transmitting without a license on frequencies he's not authorized to use. When you use a cell phone normally, it's transmitting under the carrier's license authorization. If he sets up his own "cell site," there's not a license to be found anywhere. It doesn't matter how much power is used, or how far the signal can travel, if it's an intentional radiator, it's illegal.

Re:Ya forget AT&T, ask the FBI

[Vellmont]

"Hey, you need to charge this guy, he broke wiretapping laws!"

That might be just a bit difficult to convince a jury, given that his "wiretapping" is going to be limited to a small area that likely includes just the conference room full of people their for expressly this purpose, for not particularly long. If anyone doesn't want to be "wiretapped" perhaps they can restrain themselves and not make any phone calls during that short period in that room.

Why is it that some people are always so convinced "the law" is something like the laws of physics that's set in stone and not interpreted for a specific purpose?

I'm guessing he'll be breaking FCC regulations. If someone wants to make some big complaint about the few minutes he'll be running his demo, well I'd help contribute to whatever pathetic fine they might try to assess. In reality this would never happen since the FCC has better things to do.

Re:I see AT&T's position

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

On the other hand, if they don't kill it, the presenter may well have just committed a number of crimes in front of a live audience, and probably a fair few cameras)...

If they don't, he'll just have some nastygrams to hang on his wall, and a story of being oppressed by the man, without any lingering consequences.

They might just be ignoring it entirely, figuring that the Streisand effect is not with them on this one; but the path of maximum vindictiveness actually requires them to let him go ahead...

Re:Rumour?

[bsDaemon]

Yeah. It's called "New Media." It's like news, but without the journalism degrees or standards of professionalism.

Re:Rumour?

[chapstercni]

Yeah.. cause we can see how professional all those journalists are that have the degrees. They are impartial, and fact check everything.

Remeber Adobe?

[PinkyGigglebrain]

Anyone else remember how Adobe got the FBI to arrest and charged Sklyarov?

It doesn't matter what some mediadroid says. All it would take is one phone call from the right person at AT&T to the right person in the DOJ.

AT&T could deny any and all prior knowledge when the Feds arrest the presenter for breaking some law or another. Hell, AT&T could even call for his release afterward knowing that history would repeat itself.

Considering how big AT&T is again there really isn't anything anyone can do even if they did move openly. Boycott? HA!, how many of us can afford to give up our cell phones, home phones and Internet connections in protest? AT&T knows they have most of us by the tender bits.

Re:Rumour?

[houghi]

It's like news, but without the journalism degrees or standards of professionalism.

So it's like news?