wire tapping
Covert line surveillance
Wiretapping is the secret interception of telephone or electronic communications, typically by law enforcement or intelligence agencies.
The term comes from physically tapping into telephone wires, though modern surveillance captures digital signals.
Wiretapping usually requires a court order: The FBI obtained authorization to wiretap the suspect's phone.
The practice raises persistent debates about privacy versus security.
Secretly recording conversations
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- listening deviceHidden surveillance microphone
phone tap · recording · trace · intercept · FISA · court order · metadata · target
Crawling creature or defect
- microphoneAudio input device
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- encryptionConverting data into code
decryption · scrambler · sweep · VoIP · backdoor · spyware · telecommunications · landline
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- CIAU.S. foreign intelligence service
- KGBUSSR intelligence service
- MI6UK espionage agency
Mossad · NSA · operative · covert · clandestine · counterintelligence · tradecraft · dead drop
Formal authorization document
- Fourth AmendmentSearch and seizure protection
- probable causeLegal threshold for searches
- authorizationFormal permission granted
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
evidence · admissibility · privacy rights · consent · disclosure · subpoena · indictment · felony
bugging
Secretly recording conversations
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
listening device · phone tap · recording · trace · intercept · FISA · court order · metadata · target · subject
bug
Crawling creature or defect
- microphoneAudio input device
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
encryption · decryption · scrambler · sweep · VoIP · backdoor · spyware · telecommunications · landline · mobile
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- CIAU.S. foreign intelligence service
- KGBUSSR intelligence service
MI6 · Mossad · NSA · operative · covert · clandestine · counterintelligence · tradecraft · dead drop · surveillance state
warrant
Formal authorization document
- Fourth AmendmentSearch and seizure protection
- probable causeLegal threshold for searches
- authorizationFormal permission granted
prosecution · evidence · admissibility · privacy rights · consent · disclosure · subpoena · indictment · felony · violation
- telegraphytelegraph, Morse code, telegraphy, telegraph key, telegraph line
wire tappingencryption
Converting data into code
end-to-end encryption · secure communication · privacy protection · secure line · data protection
wire, wires, wired, wiring, wireless, taps, tapped, tapping, tapper