Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)

The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) is a U.S. law enacted in 1994 that requires telecommunications carriers and manufacturers to enable law enforcement agencies to conduct electronic surveillance. This means that phone and internet service providers must ensure that their systems can be tapped by law enforcement with proper legal authorization, such as a warrant. The goal is to aid law enforcement in preventing and investigating crimes while balancing privacy concerns. CALEA applies to traditional phone networks as well as certain broadband and VoIP services.