It’s no secret that wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping have been valuable tools used by government entities to spy on some of the most notorious criminals in the world. When it comes to your local private investigator, they too have powerful tools that can make or break the case. Knowing the laws, state and federal, are important and these private investigators have a reputation to uphold. In this blog Covert Results will discuss electronic surveillance as well as countermeasures.
Some potential clients prefer email or coded text messaging, rather than simply talking over the phone. We understand that everyone’s case is different and could be very sensitive in nature, but some have just been watching too many movies. A recently released Netflix series titled Spycraft depicts various cases involving spies. Spycraft documentaries states: “The spy game is a serious business, and throughout history, the tools and technologies developed for it have mattered as much as the spies themselves.” It’s a cool show, but keep in mind that these stories do not include every day people like you and me.
So when our talented investigators are asked to become a “spy” we listen. Our staff is always here to help, however we draw the line at breaking the law. We have been asked (on multiple occasions) if we can break into homes, plant bugs or cameras, or various devices to listen to a spouse or even opposing party in a court case. The short answer to that request is ‘no’, but Covert Results investigators have the natural intuition to think outside the box and gather the needed evidence so it can be properly utilized in court.
Now, something that everyone should be aware of is recording another person’s conversation. The state of Tennessee is a “one-party consent” state, therefore if you are the person with a listening or recording device on your person and you are secretly recording the person you are talking to (in person or on the phone), then this activity is perfectly legal in Tennessee. As long as one party consents to the electronic communication, which is usually the person doing the recording, then it is within the letter of the law.
It could get tricky if you are conducting a recorded conversation over the telephone and the other person is in a “two-party consent” state. Currently there are 38 states and the District of Columbia that allow one party recording and the remaining 11 states (CA, DE, FL, IL, MD, MA, MT, NV, NH, PA, & WA) require two parties to consent to the recorded conversation. Vermont does not have an enacted consent law so it is treated as a one-party state, based on federal law.
Here’s the thing, we are not lawyers, but we do know the laws and we do follow them accordingly. It will never help a client in the long run to break the laws in an attempt to get that slight edge over your partner, paramour, or enemy. Several of our investigators, including the Founder & CEO of Covert Results Robert Young, have decades of experience in recorded interviews and wiretapping. It’s not as easy as “flipping a switch” as Robert describes in his latest book, The Good Line
There is also an entirely different side to electronic eavesdropping and that is detecting the electronics through counter surveillance. A Technical Surveillance Countermeasure (TSCM) is a “bug” sweep or electronic surveillance sweep and this specialized service detects the presence of eavesdropping devices such as hidden microphones. The main goal of the sweep is to identify physical devices, existing security breaches, and potential weaknesses in technical and electronic communications. The specialists shall provide corrective action to neutralize the risks. If you feel that you have been “bugged” give the experts at Covert Results a call and we will get you in the right hands.
Covert Results is a private investigations and armed security company with 100+ years of experience. Our team of highly trained investigators and security experts are well versed in all types of investigations and security matters. We now have two dedicated offices, in Nashville and Clarksville. For questions about private investigations, professional armed security, handgun training, or consulting please email, call, or visit our website.
contact@covertresults.com 615-861-1680 CovertResults.com
