Tap Happy

Jacob Sullum | November 25, 2002

Over the weekend, The New York Times reported that the Justice Department is "moving quickly to use its expanded powers for spying on possible terrorists." It was referring to the recent ruling by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review that criminal investigators and intelligence gatherers may cooperate as much they want on secret wiretap requests and freely share information gleaned from the surveillance. Although the Justice Department is thrilled by the ruling, one official insisted that "who you can tap is no different now than it ever was." That may well be true, but should we finding it reassuring? As the Times notes, "the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court, which considers surveillance applications, approved all 932 requests for intelligence warrants from the Justice Department last year."