Wiretapping is the act of secretly monitoring a telephone conversation or other electronic communication by placing a listening device on a wire or cable. The term originated from the practice of physically tapping into telegraph or telephone lines to listen in on conversations.

Nowadays, wiretapping can be done electronically without any physical connection to the communication lines. It can be used to intercept phone calls, emails, text messages, and even online chats.

Wiretapping is illegal in most countries without a warrant or lawful authorization to protect people’s privacy rights to confidential communication. In certain cases, law enforcement agencies may be authorized to conduct wiretaps with a warrant issued by a judge based on probable cause of criminal activity.

Types of Wiretapping:

1. Passive wiretapping simply monitors the communication without altering it. Active wiretapping might record the conversation or even inject signals to disrupt it.
2. Authorized taps are conducted with legal permission, usually by law enforcement. Unauthorized taps are illegal and violate privacy rights.

Wiretapping and Whistleblowing

Whistleblowers can play a crucial role in exposing illegal wiretapping programs. These programs might violate citizens’ privacy rights and be conducted without proper oversight.

Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA), is a well-known example. In 2013, he leaked classified documents revealing the extent of the NSA’s global surveillance programs, which sparked a worldwide debate on privacy and government overreach.