The Obama Administration has recently begun working on trying to pass laws that will allow the FBI to wire-tap different types of VoIP (voice-over-internet-protocol) such as Microsoft’s popular service, Skype. The FBI claims that the communication world has become so advanced that it is difficult to eavesdrop on suspects over the internet as people use the traditional telephone call less and less.

The FBI explains that they want access to these sites because the services provided allow suspects to communicate with each other “off the radar”. The Obama Administration is working to pass laws going against the legal and technical obstacles that prevent the Federal Bureau of Investigation from using Skype and real-time chats in their investigations.

The original proposal would have ordered Internet communication providers to build a wiretapping capacity into each service, but the revised one will only fine providers that do not comply with wiretap orders (nytimes).

According to Reuters, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook had no comments regarding the Obama Administration’s draft proposal which has been posted in varying details by the Washington Post.

Still, multiple tech companies have fiercely opposed the proposal and Congress is likely to offer stiff opposition to the idea (reuters). Microsoft wrote in a March corporate blog that they are exempt from the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act since they are not a telecommunications carrier. The current law would normally require a telecommunications company involved with an investigation to modify their equipment with surveillance systems so the federal agencies can monitor the VoIPs.

Other people are also expressing their thoughts on the ideas proposed. Gregory T. Nojeim of the Center for Democracy and Technology told the New York Times, ““I think the F.B.I.’s proposal would render Internet communications less secure and more vulnerable to hackers and identity thieves. It would also mean that innovators who want to avoid new and expensive mandates will take their innovations abroad and develop them there, where there aren’t the same mandates.”

Not to mention that this proposal would force foreign-based communications centers located within the U.S. to submit to any court issued wiretap. Some worry that this might cause other countries to penalize American companies if they refuse to turn over similar information according to CBS News.

In defense, Andrew Weissmann, the general counsel of the FBI, explained that the proposal was only aimed at preserving law enforcement official’s ability to investigate possible criminals, terrorists, and spies subject to a court’s permission (nytimes). He told the New York Times that the proposal wouldn’t create any new surveillance authority as a court order is always a necessity for wiretapping.

Whether or not the new terms will be passed is still up in the air, although currently it seems as Congress is leaning more towards a ‘nae’.

Sources:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/08/net-us-usa-obama-wiretap-idUSBRE94719S20130508

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57583473/report-administration-considers-easing-internet-wiretapping/

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/08/us/politics/obama-may-back-fbi-plan-to-wiretap-web-users.html?_r=1&

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