FBI Flight Plans Hit Turbulence
Kevin Poulsen writes in Wired News:
An FBI proposal to shoehorn a sweeping and sophisticated internet wiretapping capability into emerging in-flight broadband services would be illegal, unconstitutional and costly to implement, a civil liberties group is arguing.
The Washington, D.C. organization, Center for Democracy and Technology, or CDT, says it will file comments Wednesday with the FCC opposing an FBI request to force satellite-based broadband service providers to equip their in-air networks with a rapid-wiretapping capability. It would let government spooks begin sniffing any passenger's internet traffic within 10 minutes of obtaining court authorization.
"If they truly believe this is needed, then they need to ask Congress to require what they're asking," says CDT attorney John Morris.
The FBI, Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security jointly asked the FCC for the enhanced surveillance powers last month, citing fears that terrorists could use on-board internet access to communicate with confederates on other planes, on the ground or in different sections on the same plane during an attack.
posted by Fergie @ 8/03/2005 06:20:00 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home