The other issue, perhaps the real issue, is that wiretaps have more limited 4th amendment protections than do physical/intrusive devices.
This is even truer in most other countries. For instance, in the UK, interception comes under the authorities' prerogatory powers, and is not equivalent to (or balanced by other laws as) 'search and seizure'. India, which derives its laws from the UK, faces a similar situation though here the powers are 'statutory'. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rishab Aiyer Ghosh "Clean the air! clean the sky! wash the wind! rishab@dxm.ernet.in take stone from stone and wash them..." rishab@arbornet.org Voice/Fax/Data +91 11 6853410 Voicemail +91 11 3760335 H 34C Saket, New Delhi 110017, INDIA