Wiretapping in Law Enforcement

Archive Report

Pressure for new federal law on wiretapping

Senate lnquiry into Tapping of Telephones

The legal cloud that hangs over wiretapping by law enforcement officers, put there by ambiguous interpretations of the federal law on interception of communications, has generated pressure on Congress for new legislation to bring order out of a situation surrounded by doubt and confusion. If the lawmakers accept proposals now being pressed upon them, officials charged with the responsibility of enforcing criminal laws will be given authority to tap telephone wires when investigating serious crimes and to use the evidence thus acquired when prosecuting criminals in court.

The contention that authority of this kind in the hands of the police would deprive the citizens of an important protection afforded by the Communications Act of ...

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