The ruling was a surprise to many people, because in 1986 Congress specifically amended the wiretap laws to incorporate new technologies like e-mail.

The wiretap law bans a company from monitoring the communications of its customers, except in a few cases.

Privacy groups have argued that the service is intrusive, and some have claimed it violates wiretap laws.

Law enforcement officials have complained that the wiretap laws, written when all telephones were wired, do not provide for terrorists using and discarding cellphones.

The wiretap law makes the knowing disclosure of an illegally intercepted communication both a crime and the basis for a civil lawsuit.

Among other things, the legislation calls for an expansion of the wiretap laws in a way that parallels what the federal government has done.

When a policeman is arresting someone in a public place, he can't fall back on wiretap laws.

TV network violations of federal wiretap laws.

The recent extension of the state's wiretap law by the Legislature has renewed the debate over the constitutionality and use of electronic surveillance.

Finally, we want the wiretap law extended to informants who wear disguised electronic bugs to help the police gather evidence.