NotMe wrote:
> "Chris Hills"
>
> | >Let me explain 10 important things about telephones to you...
> | >which comes from 34 years, before retiring, in the telephone
> | >long distance business.
> | >
> | > 1) Do *not* *ever* say *anything* on a telephone that you cannot
> | > live with seeing on the front page of tomorrows local newspaper.
> | >
> | >(Items 2 through 9 have precisely the same words as item 1.)
> | >
> | > 10) There is no such thing as a secure telephone connection,
> | > unless *you* provide the encryption at both ends.
> | >
> |
> | I assume that applies to the USA telephone system?
>
> Two words: Patriot Act
>
>
And one acronym: CALEA (US "wiretap" legislation that [VERY
roughly] requires providers to be able to let law enforcement
listen into anything. This preceded the Patriot Act.)

If legalities interest you, you might also want to search on
"Council of Europe Cybercrime". Among many other things, this
applies to VoIP, if the relevant jurisdiction has signed and
ratified the treaty.