At BBC Mundo, Venezuela: reforma permite “escuchas” (my translation: please link to this post and credit me if you use this)
The Venezuelan National Assembly has authorized the first stage for a legal reform expanding the authorities’ powers to capture and use private conversations in legal proceedings.
The changes to the Penal Organic Processing Code (Código Orgánico Procesal Penal) include a statute ordering telecommunication companies to create “24/7” units to process and deliver the State Attorney any information the State Attorney requests, in real time if so requested.
The Public Ministry will be able to use these private conversations, “whether they are in an area, through the telephone, or any other means.”
The measure comes in the wake of Chavez’s announcement that Venezuela will have its own BlackBerry. As far as confidentiality in communications goes, the Blackberry affords the best of all the options available in the country, but not for long.
Before it becomes law, the measure must be approved by a second review in congress, after which Chavez would sign it and it would become law once it’s published in the official government gazette…all of which are controlled by Chavez.
In the meantime, Chavez’s war on independent media continues.
UPDATE
How to Handle Wire Tapping of your Phone and preserve your sense of humor, by one who lived through it.
