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wiretap
(redirected from wiretaps)

    Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.

wiretap n. using an electronic device to listen in on telephone lines, which is illegal unless allowed by court order based upon a showing by law enforcement of "probable cause" to believe the communications are part of criminal activities. Use of wiretap is also a wrongful act for which the party whose telephones were tapped may sue the party performing the act and/or listening in as an invasion of privacy or for theft of information. A wiretap differs from a "bug" which is a radio device secretly placed in one's premises to listen in on conversations or to tape incoming calls without notice to the caller. The same rules of illegality and tort liability apply to "bugging." (See: probable cause, invasion of privacy)

See also: eavesdrop
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The wiretaps proceded without permission from a special court set up to watch over government wiretapping operations inside the United States, as provided for under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978.
Judge rejects US claim in Islamic wiretapping case by AFP / AFP American Edition
The wiretaps proceded without permission from a special court set up to watch over government wiretapping operations inside the United States, as provided for under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978.
Judge rejects US claim in Islamic wiretapping case by AFP / AFP Global Edition
The number of wiretaps authorized by Nevada judges in criminal cases more than doubled last year, far above the nation’s overall hike of 20 percent, according to the Administrative Office of the U.
Why wiretapping a reporter’s calls endangers trust by Jeff German / Las Vegas Sun
 
 
 
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