Wow, I'm not sure where to start.
all cell phones and wireless phones run on a radio frequency, so technically anyone and everyone could be being listened to at any point in time, by tuning to the right frequency.
Not so simple. Cellular phones use digital modulation. What this means, is that you would have to know the specific type of digital system being used, and have the appropriate reciever. On top of that, the data is encrypted, so you would have to crack the encryption too. There are devices that can intercept cell calls, but such equipment is expensive, and is normally used in counter-surveillance (CIA) operations. When the police get a judge to sign a wiretap order, they simply connect directly to the phone company switch.
im pretty sure in america it is ILLEGAL for police to moniter calls regarding drugs.
im sure it still happens, but unless you are pushing HUMUNGOUS quantity, if it came down to it, it would not hold up in court because it is a violation of the 4th amendment.
they can monitor calls legally only if its like a terrorist situation or some odd
I'm absolutely sure that you are mistaken. A wiretap can be obtained pretty easily, if there is probable cause that you are using your phone to buy/sell drugs.
Here, here's some data:
Number of wiretap requests approved in 2005: 1,773
Number of wiretap requests denied: 1
Percent of wiretaps that were against mobile phones: 91% (1,433 of 1,773)
Percent in which the most serious crime was a drug-related crime: 81% (1,433 of 1,773)
Percent in which encryption prevented law enforcement from receiving the plain text of intercepted communications: 0%
Average number of communications intercepted per wiretap: 2,835
Average number of people intercepted per wiretap: 107
Approximate number of conversations intercepted: 5.0 million
Longest running federal wiretap ending in 2005: 287 days
Longest running state wiretap ending in 2005: 559 days
Percent of intercepted conversations deemed "incriminating": 22%
http://www.uscourts.gov/wiretap05/contents.html
yeah, basically they couldnt use the evidence in court, but they still do do it to give them basis to try to make a case.
If they obtained a court order authorizing a wiretap, they most certainly can use what they hear in court. If they don't have a court order, the phone company is not going to let them listen in (unless it's a patriot act request, which is documented differently, and is not used for low to mid level dealers).
They can tap a phone with a warrant. Look how they took down the mob in the 70s. The went as far as bugging their cars and houses.
You shouldn't make decisions based on
what they did in the 70s. Besides, your talking high level organized crime, not some street level ecstasy dealer.
You have to be kidding me. Since when have cops ever followed the LAW.
Well, when they don't follow the law, the evidence can't be used in court.
From what I understand, the cell phone service provider Cricket is very famous for having cops listen in on their calls.
You heard wrong. You provider does not hold the rights to your privacy. Any wiretap not authorized by a judge is not admissible in court.
