In article <telecom23.427.7@telecom-digest.org>, Jack Decker <VOIP
News> says:
> http://www.americasnetwork.com/americasnetwork/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=121788
> Source: Warren Publishing, Inc.
> COMMUNICATIONS DAILY via NewsEdge Corporation : FBI and Justice
> Dept. officials told the House Telecom Subcommittee Wed. that there
> have been difficulties establishing wiretaps through some VoIP
> carriers. While members emphasized the importance of law enforcement
> having access to VoIP communications, some had questions about DoJ's
> and FBI's problems with access and if updates to the Communications
> Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) were needed. While the DoJ
> and FBI said they were trying to "work with" VoIP providers, they also
> said many products were introduced without thought to CALEA, though
> they declined to provide any specifics.
> Some members wanted more information about the problems FBI and DoJ
> officials face from VoIP providers when trying to obtain a
> wiretap. Laura Parsky, DoJ deputy asst. attorney general, said the
> information about specific problems was too sensitive. "We don't want
> terrorists migrating to these networks," she said. Marcus Thomas, FBI
> deputy asst. director, said it didn't appear to be "disingenuous effort"
> that prevented law enforcement access to networks. Rather, he said,
> many have deployed networks without giving much thought to law
> enforcement access. Thomas said CALEA was supposed to create an
> atmosphere where innovators factored CALEA standards into its
> development, but that atmosphere never developed. Rep. Buyer (R-Ind.)
> told law enforcement witnesses that they should do a better job of
> articulating their concerns, since they appeared to be rather
> vague. Parsky said more information could be given in a classified
> forum.
I'm pretty sure that most VoIP providers encrypt from the terminal
adapter back to the server. But everything is based on IP aware
telephone switches so it isn't a problem to tap at the switch.
It's because law enforcement by and large is ignorant when it comes to
technology.
Tony P. (kd1s@nospamplease.cox.reallynospam.net)