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Wiretap Requests From Federal and State Authorities Fell 14% In 2011

Posted by samzenpus on from the are-you-listening-to-my-conversation? dept.

coondoggie writes "Federal and state court orders approving the interception of wire, oral or electronic communications dropped 14% in 2011, compared to the number reported in 2010. According to a report issued by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts a total of 2,732 wiretap applications were authorized in 2011 by federal and state courts, with 792 applications by federal authorities and 1,940 applications by 25 states that provide reports. The reduction in wiretaps resulted primarily from a drop in applications for intercepts in narcotics offenses, the report noted."

4 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. This doesn't mean the amount of wiretaps have drop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Only that the ones done legally have dropped. I'm sure the total amount of wiretapping has gone up.

  2. CarrierIQ and the like have made taps obsolete. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why muck around with asking for permission when the phone companies are more than happy to preinstall malware for you and be very cooperative as long as you don't mess with their business?

  3. So? by Thaelon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Did they do it less, or stop asking for permission?

    --

    Question everything

  4. Before the NSA data center opens?! by guttentag · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wow! And the new NSA data center that's-so-big-the-town-they're-building-it-in-had-to-expand-its-boundaries in Utah isn't even online yet! Just imagine how infrequently they'll need to bother the courts after it opens next year. Eventually judges may be able to go back to their original mission of hearing cases, unmolested by the petty need to approve wiretaps.