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Federal Wiretaps Down Slightly, Encryption Impact Decreases

Posted by samzenpus on from the who's-listening dept.

coondoggie writes: According to the 2014 Wiretap Report, released today by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts a total of a total of 3,554 wiretaps were reported as authorized, with 1,279 authorized by federal judges and 2,275 authorized by state judges. Compared to the applications approved during 2013, the number approved by federal judges decreased 13% in 2014 and the number approved by state judges increased 8%. One state wiretap application was denied in 2014, the report stated.

2 of 24 comments (clear)

  1. Meanwhile... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Warrantless, illegal mass surveillance continues unabated.

  2. So with all the whining from the FBI, etc... by chasm22 · · Score: 3, Informative

    It turns out that there were ONLY two freaking wiretaps that were encrypted and as a result of encryption the feds couldn't decipher.

    So for seemingly weeks we were told of the dangers that encryption posed to the authorities. They universally proclaimed encryption to be a direct threat to national security. I remember glancing at some of the stories and wondering just how big of a problem was this so-called threat. Well now we know. They want everyone to give up encryption because they couldn't decipher two messages. Wow. End of the world type stuff. Nothing like losing credibility. I know how I'll feel the next time the director of the FBI makes a plea for another reduction of our freedoms in the name of fighting terrorism.