Spooks seek right to snoop on Internet phone calls

BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseurThere's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
edited December 2003 in Science & Tech
If a rapid-fire series of announcements from cable and telecom bigwigs last week confirms that Voice over IP (VoIP) has a future as a mainstream consumer technology, it's worth noting that the electronic surveillance mavens in the FBI and Justice Department saw it coming.
The announcements came on the heels of a day-long public forum held 1 December at the FCC to address the most contentious issue surrounding VoIP: whether or not it should be subject to the same government regulations as traditional wireline telephone services. Two days after that public forum, according to FCC filings, FBI officials had a more private meeting with half-a-dozen FCC staffers to reiterated the Bureau's view on the matter: VoIP should be regulated - at least enough to ensure that the FBI can listen-in.

At issue is the 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), the Federal law that required telephone companies to modify their networks to be wiretap-friendly for the FBI.
Source: The Register

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    VoIP is fantastic. I've been itching to try it again with somebody.. I think I need to get Shorty on the line. :D

    Free long distance is just wonderful.
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Thrax, that's why i have asked you to install Skype so that we can chat. :D Wonderful program.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    I need to get a cheap headset, mate!

    I have the program sitting right here. :D
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    I've just ordered a headset...

    Can we say "conference" call :D
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    I have a built-in mic on the screen. Good enough. Get a headset with stereo sound though.
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Skype doesn't support con-calls :( But maybe some other proggy does? Netmeetings sound sucks but do support con AFAIK.

    Other options?

    BTW Shorty, get a Bluetooth headset so that you can run around and chat. FREEEEEEEDOM!!!!!11 (trademark Mel Gibson)
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    I'm getting Sennheiser 580s on Christmas, and I have a decent desktop mic I can use until then.

    How's the lag on the talking?
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    ...



    Lag



    ...

    Lightspeed - Packet loss - IP overhead = Lag as good as the internet. QoS not guaranteed (TM).
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    No lags on Skype at least. I had a 30 minute chat with Black Hawk a while ago with near perfect quality. Close to no lag at all.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Mack, you and Shorty need Santa hats in that there AV!
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Before we know it Rob, me and Shorty will have a readhead i'm sure.
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