FBI Taps Cell Phone Mic As Eavesdropping Tool

[Nomad559]

http://news.com.com/FBI+taps+cell+phone+mic+as+eavesdropping+tool/2100-1029_3-6140191.html

The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone's microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations.

The technique is called a "roving bug," and was approved by top U.S. Department of Justice officials for use against members of a New York organized crime family who were wary of conventional surveillance techniques such as tailing a suspect or wiretapping him.

Nextel cell phones owned by two alleged mobsters, John Ardito and his attorney Peter Peluso, were used by the FBI to listen in on nearby conversations. The FBI views Ardito as one of the most powerful men in the Genovese family, a major part of the national Mafia.

[Kagemusha]

1. Without the First Amendment, the writer of this piece would be jailed

for releasing information that will most assuredly compromise future investigations...

[twilight_sailing]

2. Things sure are creepy these days.

Except for YOU, Agent Mike. We LOVE you. ;)

[hobbit709]

3. So when you turn it off

pull the battery too and that solves that problem. Also turns off the GPS

[sarcasmo]

4. I have been saying Al-Qaeda out at the end of my phone calls with friends.

I am testing the stupidity of this to see if they are picking up key words with their eavesdropping.
Kick and Nom

[Poll_Blind]

5. The Israelis have been doing this for years. IIRC, they talk about...

...it a bit in the Frontline episode: Israel's Next War, FYI.

PB

[shance]

6. They' ve been using cell phones as mics for a long time. They've

just never made it public.

Wonder why.