Big Brother Out To Test Tapping Capabilities 4
joq writes: "Big Brother is seeking to expand their wiretapping limits. 'An unresolved issue is how to handle packet data, a technology that was in its infancy when the law was written, but has since emerged as the leading method for transmitting voice and data. Communications companies carrying packet data have until Sept. 30 to demonstrate that their systems will permit law enforcement officials to conduct wiretaps.' The article concerns CALEA (Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act), which has been highly criticized by EFF before, and is sure to be scrutinized again. I'm puzzled to know why the Feds are having companies test since it's as simple as getting a list of equipment a company uses then determining from that list whether or not it can be done."
Sorry, ossifer, (Score:1)
Faulty Spec (Score:2)
I remember when CALEA came out. The telcos complained about the high cost of implementation and (then-) close deadline. IIRC, all the major telcos met the deadline--the motivation was a $10,000/day fine for any slackers.
It seems that the feebs [fbi.gov] wrote a faulty spec. The telcos can copy packet upon packet for the feebs. The feebs are expecting the header information to be stripped. If the feebs are allowed to change the spec at this point, will the telcos be forced to bear the additional cost? If so, the telcos will "tax" us through rate increases, of course computing the extra tax of profit as a percentage of expenses. If not, the feebs will tax us.
Either way, no one's privacy is safe. Ostensibly, CALEA specifies court-ordered wiretaps. But what if company Y is interested in the Intellectual Property research done at company X? Someone at the Telco could be bribed to tap X's calls and provide the desired information to Y. The same goes for anyone running for political office or potential whistleblowers.
Only 100MB? (Score:1)
Frankly, I'd want higher TX speed for the prices they're asking. I think I'll be sticking to CAT-5 for the months to come...
Think about it. What's the point of paying more for optical relaying when the workstations have to be in the line of sight to receive anyhow? I don't know about you, but my office isn't one big room. I certainly understand the benefits for building-to-buidling transmission, but I'd use more "conventional" means of networking boxes inside each facility.
Re:Only 100MB? (Score:1)
My God, I just realized I posted this to the wrong story... meant to post to the optical networking story... note to self: SLEEP IS A GOOD THING.