Wiretaps are more like ‘wireless-taps’ these days

As the world continues abandoning fixed-line communications in most homes, the days of the traditional “wiretap” are fast drawing to a close. The term “wiretap” is rooted in the earliest of eavesdropping investigations – authorities would literally “tap,” or splice, into an existing telephone landline in order to listen in on suspects’ conversations. These days, the “wiretap” really has no basis in real-world methodologies. In fact, most wiretaps have nothing to do with any wires, or any “taps” for that matter!

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’s recently released Wiretap Report shows that 94% of all wiretap applications in 2008 were aimed at wireless devices like cellphones and pagers. With fewer and fewer Americans relying on fixed-line communications, it makes sense that authorities would want to tap mobile phones. The mobile revolution has clearly changed the way law enforcement handles its business.

Druggies were highest on the list of criminals attracting wiretaps. The data shows that 84% of wiretap applications sought to listen in on drug-related criminal conversations, far out-pacing wiretaps in homicide, racketeering or gambling investigations. And, in a day and age when a mobile phone is as accessible as a pack of cigarettes, these wireless wiretaps have proven successful – wiretaps ended in 2008 netted 4,133 arrests and 810 convictions thus far.

Just because you’re on your cellphone doesn’t mean Big Brother can’t listen in on your conversation. In fact, if you’re a criminal, you can pretty much assume that the fuzz is tapping your BlackBerry.

[Via: AP]