ISPs join forces with FBI to track terrorists

ISPs America Online and EarthLink are working with the FBI to track and trace any disaster suspects communicating via email.

Nicholas Graham, a spokesperson for America Online from parent company AOL, denied reports that a Carnivore surveillance system had been installed, although the FBI have approached other major ISPs with that intention.

Carnivore has been created and developed by the FBI to tap ISP wires and eavesdrop on specific communications. Carnivore is now officially known by its slightly less catchy moniker DCS1000.

EarthLink's VP of communications, Dan Greenfield, said the company had been issued with a warrant under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

FISA ensures the FBI, CIA, US military and other law-gathering agencies are not allowed a snooping free-for-all on the public.

Any warrants issued under FISA relate to leaked information to foreign governments so require less proof than a warrant issued for a criminal case.

The only people in the US able to request FISA warrants are the directors of the FBI and CIA plus the Secretaries of State and Defense.