Wiretaps Up 26% in 2009

[The Straight Story]

Wiretaps Up 26% in 2009


Electronic surveillance by law enforcement and prosecutors increased significantly last year, mostly to combat drug-related crimes. In a report issued by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, it was revealed that wiretap authorizations jumped 26% from 2008 to 2009.

More than 95% of wiretaps approved by criminal court judges targeted cell phones used by suspects in drug cases.

It is estimated that 268,488 people in 2009 had either their text messages or phone calls monitored by law enforcement, which Wired said was a new record. However, the frequency of electronic surveillance yielding incriminating evidence in 2009 was only 19%, the same as the year before. Almost 60% of state-authorized wiretaps (1,010 of 1,713) took place in only two states, California and New York, which account for barely 18% of the U.S. population.

The reporting by the judicial administrative office did not include wiretap orders in terrorism investigations, which go through the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, or those Americans whose communications were monitored by the National Security Agency’s warrantless wiretapping program.

The average wiretap lasts 42 days and costs $52,200.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Wiretaps_Up_26_Percent_in_2009_100505

[YOY]

1. Now that's change I can believe in!

[Winterblues]

2. Judge approved ....not unwarranted witetaps that Bush* used.

:shrug:

[dionysus]

4. yeah, it's totally obama's fault cops are getting warrants to tap drug dealer's phones

:eyes:

[YOY]

5. Not like he didn't re-up the patriot act or anything...

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[dionysus]

6. these aren't FISA wiretaps einstein

:eyes:

[YOY]

8. Well then I stand corrected. But still...fuck the patriot act.

Fuck it with a chainsaw.

And please...don't tell me that the patriot act hasn't been abused by local, state, and federal law enforcement for in use of non-terrorist related law enforcement.

[dionysus]

9. i am no fan of the patriot act at all, and yes, it has been abused. we agree on something!

;)

[G_j]

3. "did not include wiretap orders in terrorism investigations"

I wonder how many of these "drug" wire taps had to do with marijuana?


The average wiretap lasts 42 days and costs $52,200

[Echo In Light]

7. That, and anti-war people/groups