Other Issues

Join With CDT in Making an Impact on Internet Policy!

Wiretap Overview

Overview Government Surveillance of Telephones and the Internet

Search & Seizure
The Dept. of Justice has written a manual on the rules for seizing evidence stored in computers. "Searching and Seizing Computers and Obtaining Electronic Evidence in Criminal Investigations"

Carnivore
Carnivore is a computer program designed by the FBI to intercept Internet communications.

CDT's Carnivore Reference Page

CALEA
The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (CALEA) was supposed to preserve law enforcement surveillance capabilities in the face of technological chage, but the FBI has been trying to use it to claim control over the design of the telephone network to enhance its surveillance powers.

CDT's CALEA Reference Page

Roving Wiretaps
A roving wiretap order allows the government to tap any phone lines that a suspect may use.

-Congress Passes "Roving Wiretaps," Expands Surveillance Authority
-E-RIGHTS Bill (S. 854) tightens standard for roving taps

Echelon
Echelon is a secretive international surveillance system that operates outside of the normal limitations of the Constitution.

International Monitoring by US government

FIDNet
FIDNet is a comprehensive monitoring system intended to protect government computers, but it raises serious privacy concerns.

CDT's FIDNet Reference Page

CESA
CESA was a bill proposed by the Clinton Administration that would allow the government to seize decryption keys without notice to the user.

CDT's CESA Reference Page

Articles

Jerry Berman and Lara Flint, Guiding Lights: Intelligence Oversight and Control for the Challenge of Terrorism Criminal Justice Ethics, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Winter/Spring, 2003)
Critical Infrastructure Protection: Threats to Privacy and Other Civil Liberties and Concerns with Government Mandates on Industry DePaul Business Law Journal (1999-2000)
Communications Privacy In The Digital Age: Revitalizing The Federal Wiretap Laws To Enhance Privacy Albany Law Journal of Science & Technology (1997)
CIO Cyberthreat Response and Reporting Guidelines Guidelines for responding to attacks on computer systems endorsed by the F.B.I. and the Secret Service, published in CIOmagazine, a trade publication, Feb 2002.

Other Issues

"The Department of State's Patterns of Global Terrorism Report: Trends, State Sponsors, and Related Issues" by Raphael Perl, Congressional Research Service, June 1, 2004
Letter by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) accusing the State Department of manipulation in preparing its terrorism report [pdf]
Joint letter from public interest groups on NCIC accuracy April, 2003
Cato Institute report, Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Preserving Our Liberties While Fighting Terrorism, [pdf] by Timothy Lynch, June 26, 2002
White House Press Release Listing Steps Taken Since September 11, April 11, 2002
Executive Order Establishing the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council and Senior Advisory Committees, March 19, 2002
Henry Cohen, Congressional Research Service, "Freedom of Speech and Press: Exceptions to the First Amendment," [pdf] updated November 5, 2001.
GAO report on conference to consider postal mail security, including anonymity, [pdf] Dec. 20, 2001
Indictment in United States v. Zacarias Moussaoui, [pdf]
Lists of organizations identified by the U.S. Government has identified as involved in terrorist activities: List #1 and List #2
Know Your Rights, document tailored to airport profiling of Sikhs, [pdf] by Sikh Coalition.
Testimony to Senate Judiciary Committee on "Preserving Our Freedoms While Defending Against Terrorism," Nov. 28, 2001
Letter from International Privacy Groups to European Union on Data Retention, Nov. 12, 2001

Counter-terrorism Measures before 9/11

Analyses

Center For National Security Studies (CNSS) Report on the Anti-Terrorism Law that was enacted on April 24, 1996.
Center For National Security Studies (CNSS) Analysis of Omnibus Counter-Terrorism Act of 1995 as originally proposed including wiretap provisions (1995).
Center For National Security Studies (CNSS) Analysis of Current FBI Authority to Combat Terrorism (1995).
Center For National Security Studies (CNSS) Report on Recent Trends in Domestic and Foreign Terrorism (1995).

Legislation

The "Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996," as passed by the Congress and signed by President Clinton on April 24, 1996.
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) proposed an amendment to the Anti-terrorism Act to prohibit the distribution of bomb making information on the Internet. Her amendment was modified and added to the bill on June 5, 1995. Ultimately, this amendment was not included in the final version signed by President Clinton in April 1996.
On May 5, 1995, Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD), Joseph Biden (D-DE), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) introduced S. 761, the Omnibus Counterterrorism Act of 1995.
S. 735, the Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act of 1995, as introduced by Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) and others on April 27, 1995.
Clinton Administration Counter-Terrorism Initiative announced April 27, 1995.
S. 390, the Senate Omnibus Counter-Terrorism Act of 1995, as introduced on February 10, 1995 by Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) and others.
H.R. 896, the House Omnibus Counter-Terrorism Act of 1995, as introduced on February 10, 1995 by Rep. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and others.

Our Mission / Get Involved / Staff / Publications / Links / Search CDT / Jobs / Action!
Previous Headlines | Legislative Tracking | CDT's Privacy Policy

The Center For Democracy & Technology
1634 Eye Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
(v) 202.637.9800
(f) 202.637.0968
Contact CDT

Copyright © 2005 by Center for Democracy and Technology.
The content throughout this Web site that originates with CDT can be freely copied and used as long as you make no substantive changes and clearly give us credit. Details.