wiretapped
Had phones surveilled
Wiretapped describes a communication line or device that has been secretly monitored, typically by law enforcement or intelligence agencies.
A wiretapped phone transmits conversations to eavesdroppers.
The term comes from the original method of tapping into telegraph and telephone wires, though modern surveillance rarely involves physical wires: The FBI wiretapped his cell phone for six months.
Observed systematically over time
- buggedIrritated or surveilled
- interceptedCaught en route
- recordedCaptured for posterity
- listenedPerceived sound intentionally
tracked · watched · observed · investigated · spied · snooped · overheard · scrutinized
Forcible entry into territory
- violatedBroke a rule
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- secretsConcealed information
intrusion · civil-liberties · whistleblower · Snowden · exposure · breach · disclosure · consent
Mental ability, cognitive capacity
- spyCovert information gatherer
- agentOne who acts independently
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- spycraftMethods of secret agents
tradecraft · moles · sleeper · infiltration · handler · asset · cipher · decryption
monitored
Observed systematically over time
- buggedIrritated or surveilled
- interceptedCaught en route
- recordedCaptured for posterity
listened · tracked · watched · observed · investigated · spied · snooped · overheard · scrutinized · stakeout
invasion
Forcible entry into territory
- violatedBroke a rule
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
secrets · intrusion · civil-liberties · whistleblower · Snowden · exposure · breach · disclosure · consent · illegal
intelligence
Mental ability, cognitive capacity
- spyCovert information gatherer
- agentOne who acts independently
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
spycraft · tradecraft · moles · sleeper · infiltration · handler · asset · cipher · decryption · dead-drop
transmitter
Signal-emitting device
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- landlineStationary wired telephone
- microphoneAudio input device
scrambler · encrypted · VPN · sweep · debugging · signal · frequency · analog · digital · cellphone
wiretappedpublic
Available to all
on the record · overt · in the open · known · transparent
wiretappedunmonitored
Not under observation
unsurveilled · untapped · secure · encrypted · private