FBI taps cell phone mic as eavesdropping tool

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http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-150467.html

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The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone's microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations.

The technique is called a "roving bug," and was approved by top U.S. Department of Justice officials for use against members of a New York organized crime family who were wary of conventional surveillance techniques such as tailing a suspect or wiretapping him.

Nextel cell phones owned by two alleged mobsters, John Ardito and his attorney Peter Peluso, were used by the FBI to listen in on nearby conversations. The FBI views Ardito as one of the most powerful men in the Genovese family, a major part of the national Mafia.

The surveillance technique came to light in an opinion published this week by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan. He ruled that the "roving bug" was legal because federal wiretapping law is broad enough to permit eavesdropping even of conversations that take place near a suspect's cell phone.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• cellphone
• surveillance
• fbi
• federal
• bureau
• investigation
• phone
• tapping
• mic
• eavesdropping
• privacy
• government

[slowrollRod]

Use a "throw away" phone aka a "burner" phone and have the person you're calling use one as well and also have a vacuum cleaner or a hair dryer going on in the back ground just in casen the house you're in is "bugged."

[unclefishbits]

@alltvisanimated yeahh... but we're actually not that interesting, and no one is that good at surveilling. I wish we were as important as we like to think we are.

[dachamp171]

lol nice shit

[LordShivaTheDeStroyA]

BloodClot Pig'z Fuck illuminati Burn Babylon Burn , From dem a Spy ' Dem fi Die , .... Wake up people watch out for CoinTelPro " Project R & King Alfred Plan

[alltvisanimated]

This is nothing, your television,computer and telephone are all surveilance devices and you are being watched in your home and personal life. Without your informed consent your Fouth Ammendment Right to Privacy has been taken away. The Patriot Act is grants the Corporations/Government the authority to enter your home at any time without telling you. Secretly without your informed consent surveilance technology has been intergrated into the electronic devices you purchase and use everyday.

[223DesignGroup]

this fox guy is so annoying. im not a mindless toddler. You dont have to speak slowly and with extreme emphasis. I can understand everything your saying... Really sheds some light on FOX news target audience. ;)

[mpwelk]

These FOX people are the same people who had such huge boners for the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act.

[LordBifford]

The Sicilian Mafia boss Bernardo Provenzano refused to use cell phones. He passed messages on paper through couriers.

[pastoranos]

lol

[probinsontx]

i heard about this a lil while ago.

this is what instant gratification has gotten us. plus issues with teeth and gums from emf.

happy i am, that i am soooo boring.

peace