wiretappings
Covert line monitoring
Wiretappings are instances of secretly intercepting communications, especially telephone conversations, through electronic surveillance.
The term comes from the original practice of physically tapping into telephone wires.
Now it covers digital surveillance as well: The wiretappings revealed months of incriminating conversations.
Law enforcement wiretappings typically require court authorization.
Secretly listening to others
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
- spyingSecretly observing others
listening · recording · intelligence · counterintelligence · phone taps · communications · targets · subjects
Justifies or legally permits
- FISAIntelligence surveillance legislation
- court ordersBinding judicial directives
- authorizationFormal permission granted
- subpoenasLegal orders requiring appearance
Fourth Amendment · privacy · evidence · prosecution · disclosure · testimony · admissibility · lawful
1970s political crisis
- Nixon37th U.S. president
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
COINTELPRO · whistleblowers · Snowden · leaks · abuse · cover-up · investigation · congressional
Tools or mechanisms
- transmittersDevices that send signals
- bugsSmall crawling creatures
- recordersEnd-blown woodwind instruments
- tapsLight repeated touches
equipment · signals · frequencies · encryption · interception · hardware · software · phones
eavesdropping
Secretly listening to others
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
spying · listening · recording · intelligence · counterintelligence · phone taps · communications · targets · subjects · operatives
warrants
Justifies or legally permits
- FISAIntelligence surveillance legislation
- court ordersBinding judicial directives
- authorizationFormal permission granted
subpoenas · Fourth Amendment · privacy · evidence · prosecution · disclosure · testimony · admissibility · lawful · unlawful
Watergate
1970s political crisis
NSA · COINTELPRO · whistleblowers · Snowden · leaks · abuse · cover-up · investigation · congressional · hearings
devices
Tools or mechanisms
- transmittersDevices that send signals
- bugsSmall crawling creatures
- recordersEnd-blown woodwind instruments
taps · equipment · signals · frequencies · encryption · interception · hardware · software · phones · telecommunications
wiretappingsdirect observation
Watching something personally occur
public testimony · eyewitness testimony · interrogations · in-person meetings
wiretappingsencryption
Converting data into code
confidentiality · secure channels · privacy rights · due process · end-to-end encryption