The mechanics of lawful interception
Stephen Gleave · Network Security · 2007
Phone tapping was one issue at the top of the headlines last year, after the NSA was discovered listening in to US citizens’ conversations. But the issue of lawful intercept stretches back for years. During the mid-nineties, legislation was signed in the US that outlined a more structured framework for telephone carriers’ compliance with law enforcement requests, and created standards for the exchange of such information. Now, thanks to the rise of VoIP, P2P and other forms of communication, the law is being updated. And Europe has also been working to put its own legislation in place governing the retention of such information. Stephen Gleave, VP of marketing at SS8 Networks, explains how the legal requirements surrounding lawful interception have evolved over the years, and describes where we’re headed. For years, communication service providers (CSPs) wanting an operating licence have had to meet set conditions. One such condition is that they must work with law enforcement to gather intelligence which may be used as evidence in the prosecution of criminals. Governments around the world have passed legislation that mandates this co-operation and have continually strived to update these statutes as technology advances and criminal communications become more sophisticated.