Explanation of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)

In 1994 as a means of keeping up with emerging digital technology, the United States Congress approved the Communications for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). The regulations were intended to preserve a wiretapping law put in place in 1968 and allow wiretapping over digital phone networks.

CALEA requires telecommunications carriers to modify their equipment, facilities, and services to aid surveillance capabilities. Initially there was some question as to whether this would apply to VoIP—Voice Over Internet Protocol service—but in 2005 the courts ruled that indeed VoIP must comply with CALEA.

As part of an investigation, law enforcement agencies or intelligence services can tap into a phone call or trace the origin of the call without advising any of the parties involved in the communications.

This means that all VoIP phone service, including toll free providers using VoIP, is subjected to the surveillance provisions under CALEA.

In fact, all telecommunications companies as defined by CALEA must maintain updated system securities plans with the Federal Communications Commission. Internet providers and VOIP service providers were required to submit their initial plan by March 2007 and now must provide updated material as mandated by CALEA.

Virtually all common carriers and telecommunications companies are subject to the regulations under CALEA. This means all telephone communications can be monitored as part of legal, warranted, surveillance by law enforcement agencies. However, fiber optic communications are a possible exception for some wiretapping purposes because detecting transmission through the fiber optic cables is very difficult.

46 Responses

  1. […] News ← Explanation of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) […]

  2. Ok thank you for that

  3. Thanks for the info

  4. This covers the whole USA right

  5. Great advice

  6. good point

  7. lovely

  8. Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far.

  9. When godaddy first listed their phone number i was like… OMG its not 800!!! then i thought.. Via cell phone it’s alllll the same.

  10. good point

  11. He who can, does. He who can’t, teaches.

  12. Two things are infinite : the universe and human stupidity; I’m not sure about the universe.

  13. A word to the wise ain’t necessary — it’s the stupid ones that need the advice.

  14. To be clever enough to get all that money, one must be stupid enough to want it.

  15. A smile is the lighting system of the face, the cooling system of the head and the heating system of the heart.

  16. Remember that time is money.

  17. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.

  18. I thought the tin foil hat was good enough

  19. just because you have a number doesn’t mean you’re going to be heard.

  20. Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity.

  21. You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back.

  22. very good

  23. The hardest thing in the world to understand is the laws

  24. nice

  25. how long will it take before the NSA starts using this, no more calling from phone booths, to hide your number

  26. 1-800-I-love-brand-new-carpet

  27. This whole article is based on an incorrect assumption — that all calls cost the same. The huge majority of people have regular home phones, which do not have any sort of “all numbers are the same” plan. On top of that, not all mobile phone plans are the same. I’m a heavy mobile user, but my plan doesn’t have any special “all numbers are the same” plan, because the majority of my calls are local. The only thing that will kill 800 numbers, I think, is the end of the local/long distance distinction, which may happen, but not for the reasons the article lists.

  28. You just call the number you want to call with the country code. For instance if you wanna call a US toll-free number dial “+1800#######”

  29. well said

  30. Can anyone vouch for Tip #1? Because it would be damn awesome if it works.

  31. Fish and visitors smell in three days.

  32. Aim Low, Reach Your Goals, Avoid Disappointment.

  33. Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity.

  34. Phone call for Al…Al Coholic…is there an Al Coholic here?
    Wait a minute…
    Listen, you little yellow-bellied rat jackass, if I ever find out who you are, I’m gonna kill you!

  35. A wise man does not need advice and a fool won’t take it.

  36. Remember that time is money.

  37. Noo, I can’t dial 1-800-MYLEMON!!!

  38. A lawyer with a briefcase can steal more than a thousand men with guns.

  39. A word to the wise ain’t necessary — it’s the stupid ones that need the advice.

  40. […] so by the Wiretapping Act of 1968, the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (CALEA), and the Patriot Act of 2001. Investigations involving monitoring phone calls must be specifically […]

  41. […] more here. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)CALEADefining CALEAJust What Exactly is […]

  42. […] January 14, 2010 · Leave a Comment As part of an investigation, law enforcement agencies or intelligence services can tap into a phone call or trace the origin of the call without advising any of the parties involved in the communications. Get the CALEA information here. […]

  43. […] more here. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Telecoms Obligated to Assist CALEATelecoms […]

Leave a comment