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U.S. wants to monitor email from planes

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice in the United States are seeking enhanced surveillance powers over web service provided by airlines in a new effort to keep tabs on such emerging technologies like internet use on airplanes in order to meet the government`s concerns about fighting terrorism.

Authorities want the ability to intercept, divert or even block e-mail or other online communication to and from passenger jets after obtaining a court order. If the permission is granted, internet providers would have to allow government monitoring within 10 minutes of a court order being granted to federal authorities, must be able to electronically identify users by their seat numbers, and will be required to collect and store records of the communications for 24 hours.

Such capabilities would go far beyond the government`s current ability under the law to monitor online communications, and civil rights groups are sure to raise a stink over the request. Privacy issues in the United States are a topic of great concern, and any measures that are seen to be unduly invading an passenger`s privacy are a topic of much debate, similar to the debate sparked by the government`s desire to be able to monitor libraries and gain records of books checked out by patrons.

Any such internet monitoring policies granted to federal agents would more than likely be included in a renewed Patriot Act under discussion in the U.S. Congress.