Industry Indicators

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has created a Privacy Threat Index to track the growing use of government surveillance on telecommunications.

The group mirrors the color-coded scheme established for the Homeland Security Advisory System.

EPIC sets the current level at Yellow, based on the following:

• Ongoing efforts by the FBI to extend the application of CALEA to Internet telephony

• Expanded use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which lets the government conduct surveillance without Fourth Amendment safeguards

• The FBI relaxed the legally mandated accuracy requirement for the National Crime Information Center, the nation's largest criminal justice database

• Increased funding for surveillance systems, including video surveillance

• Possible consideration of “Patriot II,” which would further expand government surveillance authority.