The world of television shows with movies such as James Bond it reveals a world that most people never experience. However, the world of crime often finds the use of wiretapping the best way to stop crime. Is wiretapping worth the cost of changing it with the new technologies that seem to change almost every day? The cost of wiretapping ranges in the billions of dollars and grows approximately that much each year. The wiretaps mainly help the police investigate drug crimes. Is that worth it? "From 1985 to 1991, court-ordered electronic surveillance conducted just by the FBI led to 7,325 convictions, almost $300 million in fines being levied, over $750 million in recoveries, restitutions, and court-ordered forfeitures, and $1.8 billion in prevented potential economic loss" (Hanson 1994). This was dated back in 1994. If wiretapping could have prevented the tragedy on September 11th, would it not be worth it? If the Oklahoma City bombing might have been prevented with wiretapping, would it not be worth the cost? If wiretapping saves lives is the cost not worth it? What do you think?
