Thursday, August 30, 2007

Good news for privacy advocates or telcos - I'm not sure which

Here's a nice article on DCSNet, the FBI's "sophisticated, point-and-click surveillance system that performs instant wiretaps on almost any communications device" (from Lauren Weinstein). From my years at AT&T I'm dubious that the technology works with the 1984-like seamless smoothness the article suggests, but this part sounds accurate to me:

Despite its ease of use, the new technology is proving more expensive than a traditional wiretap. Telecoms charge the government an average of $2,200 for a 30-day CALEA wiretap, while a traditional intercept costs only $250, according to the Justice Department inspector general. A federal wiretap order in 2006 cost taxpayers $67,000 on average, according to the most recent U.S. Court wiretap report.

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