Reno to Review the FBI's Internet Wiretap System

[Yaman Akdeniz]

July 14, 2000, 5:50 AM PDT  Reno to Review the FBI's Internet Wiretap 
System  

The U.S. Attorney General will investigate whether the "Carnivore" automated 
computer system infringes on privacy rights.  By Reuters   

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno said she would 
review a new FBI automated computer system that can wiretap the Internet to 
determine whether it might infringe on privacy rights
"I'm taking a look at it now to make sure that we balance the rights of all 
Americans with the technology of today," Reno said Thursday when asked about 
the FBI system known as "Carnivore" that can be used to monitor all e-mails of a 
criminal suspect.
Reno emphasized that any such wiretaps, which are placed on an Internet service 
provider's system, cannot be done without an appropriate court order "according 
to processes and procedures used now for lawful surveillance." 

"We are looking at it to see what is needed, if anything," she said. "If additional 
regulations are needed, we will pursue those." She told her weekly news briefing 
that she wanted to make sure that the new technology does not become "a cause 
of concern for privacy interests." 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other privacy advocates have 
expressed concern the new system could scan private information about legal 
activities, resulting in excessive monitoring of online communications. Besides e-
mails, the system can monitor visits to Web sites and Internet chat sessions. Reno 
said she only began looking into the issue and asking questions after news articles 
appeared earlier this week. 

The FBI recently demonstrated the system to executives in the 
telecommunications industry. "We have known about the capacity to do this. Its 
application and what has been done had not been brought to my attention," Reno 
said. The FBI's director, Louis Freeh, reports to Reno. "I just want to make sure 
that industry, privacy interests, law enforcement interests are all fully advised so 
that we can consider anybody's concerns and make sure that we address them," 
Reno said. She was unable to say whether the system would continue to operate 
until her review was underway. 

Copyright 2000, Reuters News Service  



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mr. Yaman Akdeniz,
Director, Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK)
URL: http://www.cyber-rights.org
E-mail: lawya@cyber-rights.org
Tel: +44 (0)498 865116

Read the CR&CL (UK) Reports at:
http://www.cyber-rights.org/reports/ 
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