phone tapping

[robert7700]

does any one know if all phone calls are recorded

[Atman-79]

In the UK, no. However the covert and defence service have the right to tap any wire, if they have suspicions that somebody may endanger the security of the government or military. I.E Terrorism.
In the U.S Although its rumoured that they have technology that can listen to all calls, and voice recognition software that will listen out for certain key words. If said keyword/s is spoken, they will then monitor all future calls from that line more closely, and suspect, a breach in security. All of this is conspiracy theory and can't be proven or disproven.
The U.S. laws are different and the services can at will retrieve data on the calling and called number, time of call and duration, which is collected automatically on all calls and stored for later use by the billing department of the phone company.

Bottom line, for the UK, your safe from big brother. It contravenes public privacy laws.
In the U.S be careful what you say on the phone if your harbouring terrorists.

If your concerned, these links will make your hair stand on end :

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-01 /2006-01-01-voa34.cfm
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/05 /22/230779/revealed-government-plans-to-tap-ph one-and-internet.htm

[pauln90]

Maybe not just yet but how long before they do. I recently saw this quote

"The Home Office has drawn up plans for the creation of a single central database containing details, though not the content, of every e-mail, text and mobile phone call made in the UK and of every web page browsed. "

I believe these plans are to be debated in the new year by Parliament. Software is already used to monitor communications for certain triggers that may point to terrorism.

Maybe an Orwellian scenario isn't that far away.

[rov1200]

I can't imagine the 6000 employees at MI5 are twiddling their thumbs waiting for something extraordinary to happen. All union reps, people who are anti-establishment, left wing antagonists and groups such as 'plane stupid', fathers-for-justice and any other group are prime candidates for surveillance.

[terambulan]

Somebody would have to be really bored to do that? It's bad enuf watching cctv replays.

[Ice.Maiden]

Having said all that - we have a permanent trace on all out phone calls. It's not generally done though, unless someone's had threatening calls, or there's reason to be suspicious of someone.