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Latest update: November 24, 1998
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Big Brother Wants to Know Where You Are, and With Whom You're Communicating

The FBI is pressuring the FCC to expand the ways in which the agency can monitor us and listen in on our private Internet communications. It has asked the FCC for permission to use an individual's cellular phone as a location tracking device. It also wants access to information you send over the Internet using e-mail and other modes of Internet communication like ICQ, Freetel, and Netmeeting. (The FCC calls this "packet mode communications.")

Before making its ruling on the FBI's request, the FCC is seeking comments on whether federal law enforcement agencies should be able to use cell phones as tracking devices and have easier access to the content of our private Internet communications.

Update Message:

An Action Update sent earlier today indicating that the FBI is asking the FCC for access to the content of e-mail and other Internet communications. This is inaccurate.

E-mail is NOT part of the so-called "packet mode communications." The FBI wants access to the content of voice communications you send over the Internet using programs like ICQ, Freetel, and Netmeeting - an increasingly popular method of communication - without having to show the same persuasive evidence it needed to listen in on calls made on older telephone systems.

We apologize for the error. (from http://www.aclu.org)