WASHINGTON—The Bush administration, alarmed about the inability of law enforcement to track suspects who communicate by cell phone, is seeking expanded wiretap authority as part of an anti-terrorism package being discussed between the White House and lawmakers.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft wants new powers to request wiretaps in foreign-related investigations that would be valid for any telephone used by a suspect. Under current law, a wiretap is needed for each individual phone number. “It simply doesn’t make sense to have the surveillance authority associated with the hardware or with the phone instead of with the person or terrorist,” said Ashcroft.
In the past, the mobile-phone industry and privacy advocates have resisted efforts to broaden electronic eavesdropping out of concern for civil liberties.
“The president supports the attorney general’s efforts and steps being taken,” White House press secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters this week. Asked whether the president is worried that constitutional privacy rights are being trampled in the process to beef up national security, Fleischer replied, “The president thinks you can have both, and that is the goal of policy-makers.”
Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller III are expected to provide additional details on efforts to secure greater wiretap authority.
Last Thursday night, the Senate passed commerce appropriations legislation that included an amendment that would relax the wiretap law as a “first legislative strike against terrorists.”
