A bill (H.R. 3484) to expand police access to telephone conversations that might pertain to child pornography was approved, by voice vote, by the House Judiciary Committee on September 20.
Sponsored by Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL), the bill would allow law enforcement officers to wiretap the conversations of individuals suspected of sending or receiving child pornography, or of transporting children for related purposes. Under current law, officers are not allowed to wiretap on the basis of suspicion.
Although it was approved by voice vote, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) expressed concern about the bill’s effect on privacy rights. Reps. McCollum and Scott agreed to negotiate language regarding the scope of the bill before it is debated on the House floor.
