FITUG e.V. Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft

FC: Senate says warrantless police snooping of pager

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date:          Wed, 07 Jul 1999 09:03:48 -0400
To:            politech@vorlon.mit.edu
From:          Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
Subject:       FC: Senate says warrantless police snooping of pagers OK
Reply-to:      declan@well.com


http://www.wired.com/news/news/politics/story/20597.html

                     Snooping OK on Pager Numbers?
                     by Declan McCullagh 

                     3:00 a.m.  7.Jul.99.PDT
                     WASHINGTON -- Police can easily
                     "eavesdrop" on pagers if a bill approved
                     by the US Senate becomes law. 

                     The bill says law enforcement officials
                     can monitor all messages sent to
                     targeted pagers without having to
                     convince a judge that the information can
                     be found only in that way. 

                     [...]


And the 1979 Supreme Court case that says the police don't need to get
a warrant or court order to monitor what numbers you dial on your
telephone.

http://laws.findlaw.com/US/442/735.html

 We therefore conclude that petitioner in all probability entertained
 no actual expectation of privacy in the phone numbers he dialed, and
 that, even if he did, his expectation was not "legitimate." The
 installation and use of a pen register, consequently, was not a
 "search," and no warrant was required. The judgment of the Maryland
 Court of Appeals is affirmed.



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