FBI Tracks Secret 'Wiretaps' With Multilevel Security
Wilson P. Dizard III writes on GCN.com:
The FBI has launched an application that monitors the preparation of requests for secret wiretaps under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by using several levels of classification, ranked by the security level of the user.More here.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 created the [FISA] Court (FISC). The court, which meets in secret, is formed of 12 judges who serve in rotating three-judge panels, sit continuously and review requests for electronic surveillance three days a week, according to various public reports and records.
An FBI special agent recently recounted the state of affairs regarding executive branch requests to the FISC for national-security wiretaps when FBI director Robert Mueller took office in August 2001.
“The director asked how many [FISA requests] were pending,” the FBI official said. “The answer was, ‘The FBI didn’t know.’ He asked, ‘How long does it take to approve one?’ We didn’t know. He asked, ‘What’s the holdup [main delaying factor]?’ We didn’t know.”
[Ed. Note: Wow, that last paragraph reminds me of the FBI's laptop problem... - ferg]
posted by Fergie @ 2/13/2007 10:05:00 AM
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