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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFBI Pursuing Real-Time Gmail Spying Powers as 'Top Priority' for 2013
Source: Slate
Despite the pervasiveness of law enforcement surveillance of digital communication, the FBI still has a difficult time monitoring Gmail, Google Voice, and Dropbox in real time. But that may change soon, because the bureau says it has made gaining more powers to wiretap all forms of Internet conversation and cloud storage a top priority this year.
Last week, during a talk for the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C., FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann discussed some of the pressing surveillance and national security issues facing the bureau. He gave a few updates on the FBIs efforts to address what it calls the going dark problemhow the rise in popularity of email and social networks has stifled its ability to monitor communications as they are being transmitted. Its no secret that under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the feds can easily obtain archive copies of emails. When it comes to spying on emails or Gchat in real time, however, its a different story.
Thats because a 1994 surveillance law called the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act only allows the government to force Internet providers and phone companies to install surveillance equipment within their networks. But it doesnt cover email, cloud services, or online chat providers like Skype. Weissmann said that the FBI wants the power to mandate real-time surveillance of everything from Dropbox and online games (the chat feature in Scrabble) to Gmail and Google Voice. Those communications are being used for criminal conversations, he said.
Read more: http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/03/26/andrew_weissmann_fbi_wants_real_time_gmail_dropbox_spying_power.html
Initech
(100,068 posts)Downwinder
(12,869 posts)It will pay for it self. They can collect all my Nigerian inheritances.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)...if the K is on triple letter score?
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Apophis
(1,407 posts)I want the Fourth Amendment back.
Time to get rid of my gmail account.
white_wolf
(6,238 posts)What about looking into crimes committed by Wall Street?