wiretap

(noun)

A concealed device connected to a telephone or other communications system that allows a third party to listen or record conversations.

Related Terms

Examples of wiretap in the following topics:

  • Roving Wiretaps

    • A roving wiretap is a wiretap specific to the United States that follows the surveillance target across his or her private communications.
    • A roving wiretap is a wiretap specific to the United States that follows the surveillance target.
    • However, a roving wiretap defeats the target's attempts at breaking the surveillance by changing location or their communications technology.
    • Senate voted to extend the provisions of the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act to search business records and allow for roving wiretaps.
    • Liz Rose, spokeswoman for the Washington office of the ACLU, said the language of the bill is a blank check that would cover not only the warrantless wiretapping program that the Bush administration has acknowledged, but any unconfirmed or previously unknown program.

  • Sunset Laws

    • The Patriot Act is a sunset law on wiretapping for terrorism cases, wiretapping for computer fraud and abuse, sharing of wiretap and foreign intelligence information, warranted seizure of voicemail messages, computer trespasser communications, nationwide service or warrants for electronic evidence, and privacy violation of civil liability.

  • National Security Agency Surveillance

    • Under public pressure, the Bush administration ceased the warrantless wiretapping program in January 2007 and returned review of surveillance to the FISA court.
    • All wiretapping of American citizens by the National Security Agency requires a warrant from a three-judge court set up under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
    • In addition, the Wiretap Act prohibits any person from illegally intercepting, disclosing, using, or divulging phone calls or electronic communications; this is punishable with a fine or up to five years in prison, or both.

  • The PATRIOT and Freedom Acts

    • On May 26, 2011, President Barack Obama used an Autopen to sign a four-year extension of three key provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act: roving wiretaps, searches of business records (the library records provision), and conducting surveillance of lone wolves-- individuals suspected of terrorist-related activities not linked to terrorist groups.
    • It restored authorization for roving wiretaps and tracking "lone wolf" terrorists.

  • The Legislative Function

    • There have been concerns about congressional oversight of executive actions such as warrantless wiretapping, although others respond that Congress did investigate the legality of presidential decisions.

  • The First and Fourth Amendments and Issues of Terrorism and Security

    • All wiretapping of American citizens by the National Security Agency requires a warrant from a three-judge court set up under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.