Are all telephone calls recorded and accessible to the US government?

[jakeXT]

On Wednesday night, Burnett interviewed Tim Clemente, a former FBI counterterrorism agent, about whether the FBI would be able to discover the contents of past telephone conversations between the two. He quite clearly insisted that they could:


...

CLEMENTE: "No, there is a way. We certainly have ways in national security investigations to find out exactly what was said in that conversation. It's not necessarily something that the FBI is going to want to present in court, but it may help lead the investigation and/or lead to questioning of her. We certainly can find that out.

BURNETT: "So they can actually get that? People are saying, look, that is incredible.

CLEMENTE: "No, welcome to America. All of that stuff is being captured as we speak whether we know it or like it or not."


http://m.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/04/telephone-calls-recorded-fbi-boston

[elleng]

1. Doubt that its BEING done NOW, everywhere.

[CrispyQ]

2. Privacy is endangered.

In Max Headroom it was illegal to turn off your TV, so Edison would turn the volume down & throw a blanket over it.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Maybe not

when Skype is used.

[bemildred]

4. Why yes, yes it is, and they store it too.

Memory is cheap, and the government has lots of it.

[NV Whino]

5. I always say hello to Agent Mike when I make a phone call.