Enhanced Wiretap Proposal Targets ISPs

Lobbying group The Internet Association opposes a stealth draft wiretap proposal that would open the door for police to intercept online communications. The group, whose clients include Google, Facebook and Yahoo!, says the U.S. Department of Justice hasn’t made a strong-enough case to ramp wiretap powers that extend to the Internet. Should this Internet proposal pass — adding sharper teeth to the existing Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) of 1994 that doesn’t include instant messaging, email or social media sites — fines would start at tens of thousands of dollars and would start doubling every day after a 90-day period for those Internet providers found to be in noncompliance, reports say. The proposal would have to be vetted by Congress. The ACLU also is concerned about possible privacy and hacking issues, should back doors have to be created for law enforcement.