Telephone bugging

The interception of telephone conservations or telegraph messages may be legal or illegal and may be used to collect information and evidence on suspected criminals or as an espionage technique for political or business purposes. Legal wiretapping in some countries requires a court order and is used by local constabulary or state security police. If police corruption or political corruption is involved the information may be misused. The effect of wiretapping may be to reinforce government control or strengthen police power and there is risk of abuse. New forms of wiretapping apply to telecommunication data or code pulses, and hence also to computer-tapping. Illicit wiretapping is closely related to tape-recording of conversations without permission, which may be a civil, rather than a criminal offence against the rights of privacy. Wiretapping may also be an adjunct to electronic bugging.