US Funding Mexican Wiretapping Program

[kpete]

Mexico to boost tapping of phones and e-mail with U.S. aid
Calderon is seeking to expand monitoring of drug gangs; Washington also may have access to the data.
By Sam Enriquez, Times Staff Writer
May 25, 2007


MEXICO CITY — Mexico is expanding its ability to tap telephone calls and e-mail using money from the U.S. government, a move that underlines how the country's conservative government is increasingly willing to cooperate with the United States on law enforcement.

The expansion comes as President Felipe Calderon is pushing to amend the Mexican Constitution to allow officials to tap phones without a judge's approval in some cases. Calderon argues that the government needs the authority to combat drug gangs, which have killed hundreds of people this year.

Mexican authorities for years have been able to wiretap most telephone conversations and tap into e-mail, but the new $3-million Communications Intercept System being installed by Mexico's Federal Investigative Agency will expand their reach.

The system will allow authorities to track cellphone users as they travel, according to contract specifications. It includes extensive storage capacity and will allow authorities to identify callers by voice. The system, scheduled to begin operation this month, was paid for by the U.S. State Department and sold by Verint Systems Inc., a politically well-connected firm based in Melville, N.Y., that specializes in electronic surveillance.

more at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico25may25,0,7011563.story?coll=la-home-center

[DBoon]

1. k&r

k&r
:kick:

[Horse with no Name]

2. I wonder what this has to do with the story that came out the other day

that Western Union REFUSED to allow the DOJ access to their Mexico to America money transfers.

[acmavm]

3. Monitoring drug gangs? More like monitoring his opponent and

his followers. He won the presidency of Mexico just like bush** won 2004. Fraud.

[blueworld]

4. Thank God for the fence - can we get a roof to go with it?

Who knew there were so many illegal threats in the world TRAVELLING all over no less! So of course we have to spy on them to protect ourselves!

Terrorists, insurgents, drug dealers, sleeper cells, jihadists, liberals, not to mention ferriners? I didn't know you could afford a laptop by picking onions. Is that one of the benefits of NAFTA?

Fercrispusakes. Is it cocktail hour yet? Is that still legal? I know you're out there spying on me...these prescriptions are legit.:tinfoilhat: