The National Communications System and Federal Electronic Surveillance Policy

Abstract

People throughout the world are experiencing a major revolution in how they communicate, why they communicate, and what they communicate. This revolution, which started a decade or two ago and shows no sign of abating, is driven by a combination of technological, institutional, economic, and social changes. Concurrent with the changes has been the significant expansion of the range of electronic surveillance devices that are available for surreptitously monitoring individual or group behavior and communication. Along with this availability has gone increased use. These developments, however, have essentially outpaced legislative, judicial, and social adjustments to existing policy. For, although most people acknowledge the changes in the underlying communications system, they nevertheless continue to hold certain expectations about their personal privacy and seem unaware of their increased vulnerability to electronic eavesdropping. The Bill of Rights, especially in the fourth amendment's reasonable expectation of privacy,