Proposal Would Require Internet Companies to Comply With Wiretaps

Government officials are working on legislation that would financially penalize email, social media, Internet phone and online chat companies that refuse to comply with court wiretap orders, according to a report.

The proposal would allow courts to levy fines “starting at tens of thousands of dollars” upon such uncooperative companies, according to the Washington Post citing “persons who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.” The fines would then increase on an exponential scale after three months of noncompliance.