What is CALEA?

The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) is a United States wiretapping law passed in 1994. CALEA was intended to assist law enforcement agencies to conduct electronic surveillance by service providers in a uniform, standards-based way.

Lawful Intercept Description

The term "Lawful Intercept" is used to describe the process by which law enforcement agencies (LEA's) and intelligence services, in accordance with local law and after following due process and receiving proper authorization from competent authorities, intercept telecommunications.