Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site l5.uucp
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!sun!l5!gnu
From: gnu@l5.uucp (John Gilmore)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio,net.dcom,net.video
Subject: Re: Listen to phone calls on your tvro
Message-ID: <95@l5.uucp>
Date: Tue, 10-Sep-85 04:29:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: l5.95
Posted: Tue Sep 10 04:29:05 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Sep-85 21:15:51 EDT
References: <338@nicmad.UUCP> <780@vortex.UUCP>
Organization: Ell-Five [Consultants], San Francisco
Lines: 14
Xref: linus net.ham-radio:2584 net.dcom:1076 net.video:1405
Summary: NSA does legal wiretaps by "only" listening for touchtones, u can 2

The last time the wiretapping laws were hacked, the NSA suggested (and
got) a small wording change that effectively makes it legal to listen
in AS LONG AS YOU ONLY LISTEN TO TELCO SIGNALLING rather than user
data/speech.  This means that, for example, receiving microwave phone
transmissions is defensible if your equipment filters out all but the
"who called who" info.  They wanted this because it gives them a legal
reason to have tapping equipment always installed.  (Who's to know if
their equipment happens to switch to recording speech or data if an
interesting phone number makes or receives a call?)

It would be interesting to see them try you for it -- if they found
you guilty, you could sue the government to stop the NSA.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, Lauren.