This post was triggered by a tweet from my son-in-law, Garry Bartle:

LOL! I doubt consumers, the tech industry, or more especially the criminal element want things slowed down just so the FBI can keep pace! RT @cnnbrk: FBI complains communication technology outpacing its ability to wiretap

CNN’s article, “Action needed to assure new technology can be wiretapped, FBI says” stated:

Rapid advances in communications are eroding police departments’ abilities to conduct wiretaps, and Congress needs to take steps to ensure that new telephone, computer and wireless systems are designed to allow lawful police access, FBI and police officials told Congress Thursday. …

At issue is the diminished capability of law enforcement agencies to conduct quick wiretaps in an age of Twitter accounts, Facebook and MySpace pages, BlackBerrys, Androids, iPhones and iPads. The Justice Department calls the phenomenon "going dark."

Well, it might be harder to place wiretaps, but I saw some technology from Cisco at the RSA Conference that sensed and interpreted Facebook traffic from mobile devices and automatically blocked content that violated company policy.  Maybe the FBI should touch base with Cisco.

Certainly, we want bad folks apprehended and punished, but there is ample evidence that the government has increased, rather than decreased surveillance over the past several years.  It just might not be the real crisis that is being portrayed.

My Twitter response to Garry?

@LittleG77 Garry … your message was just intercepted. Next … analysis and remediation. You’ve been had! (JK, but it could happen)