Group Urges Scrutiny To Calls To Expand CALEA

A coalition of technology associations and privacy groups released a "statement of concern" about the Federal Bureau of Investigation's proposals to expand a current law requiring communications providers to ensure law enforcement can conduct wiretaps on their networks.

The statement was released by a dozen groups including the Business Software Alliance, Center for Democracy and Technology, Computer and Communications Industry Association, the Net Coalition, and TechAmerica, and comes two days before a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing Thursday on ensuring lawful government surveillance with the rise of new technologies. "Lawful electronic surveillance plays an important role in enabling government agencies to fulfill their obligations to stop crime and to protect national security," according to the statement from the groups. "These goals, however, must be reconciled with other important societal values, including cybersecurity, privacy, free speech, innovation and commerce."