NCJ Number
141409
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1993) Pages: 25-29
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Advances in telecommunications have complicated law enforcement's battle against the criminal use of technology. Specifically, the current design configurations of digital telecommunications systems prevent police from conducting a wiretap.
Abstract
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is promoting Federal legislation that would require providers of wire and electronic communications to continue designing systems that allow police access to specific communications in order to carry out court-ordered wiretaps. Law enforcement officials can cite numerous cases in which digital telephony has been used in criminal enterprises including kidnapping, organized crime, drug trafficking, extortion, and domestic terrorism. The proposed legislation is based on a document outlining technical requirements for police to do wiretaps that was prepared in cooperation with Federal, State, and local members of the National Technical Investigators Association. The proposal has been endorsed by several professional law enforcement organizations. However, some telecommunications companies argue that this type of legislation would be onerous on the service providers, citing economic hardship and a "chilling" effect on the introduction of new technologies.