Wire-tapping Definition:

An electronic surveillance device which secretly listens in and records conversations held over a phone line.

Related Terms: Eavesdroppers

May also be known or referrred to as electronic surveillance.

It is usually only allowed with the permission of a judge and if it can be shown to be necessary for the solving of a serious crime.

Without proper authority for this serious intrusion into someone's privacy, wire-tapping may be in itself a crime.

Find you are constantly looking up definitions? Try our search provider (works in most modern browsers)

If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have legal term suggestion, we'd love to hear from you!