No encryption in federal wiretaps in 2003

Arnold G. Reinhold reinhold at world.std.com
Sun May 23 08:24:09 EDT 2004


The 2003 wiretap report from the US Court system's Administrative 
Office is out:
http://uscourts.gov/wiretap03/contents.html This annual report is 
mandated by Congress and since 2002 has been required to include 
information on encryption.  It states:

"In 2003, no instances were reported of encryption's being 
encountered on federal wiretaps. One state jurisdiction reported that 
encryption was encountered in a wiretap terminated in 2003; however, 
the encryption was reported to have not prevented law enforcement 
officials from obtaining the plain text of communications 
intercepted. "

According to the 2002 report :

"Encryption was reported to have been encountered in 16 wiretaps 
terminated in 2002 and in 18 wiretaps terminated in calendar year 
2001 or earlier but reported for the first time in 2002; however, in 
none of these cases was encryption reported to have prevented law 
enforcement officials from obtaining the plain text of communications 
intercepted. "

The 2003 report goes on to state that:

"After decreasing 9 percent in 2002, the number of wiretaps reported 
increased 6 percent in 2003. A total of 1,442 applications were 
authorized in 2003, including 578 submitted to federal judges and 864 
to state judges. Judges approved all applications. Compared to the 
number approved during 2002, the number of applications approved by 
federal judges in 2003 increased 16 percent, and the number of 
applications approved by state judges remained stable (up 0.3 
percent)."

"... 77 percent of all applications for intercepts (1,104 wiretaps) 
authorized in 2003 cited drug offenses as the most serious offense 
under investigation."

Arnold Reinhold

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