Designed to assist federal prosecutors and investigative agents in the preparation of federal electronic surveillance applications made pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521 (Title III).

The "Big Black Book of Electronic Surveillance" opens the door to the world of intelligence arms merchants whose work shapes advanced government surveillance. These companies hail from Austria, Australia, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and many other nations. This volume presents the market leaders and the surveillance solutions and services they provide to governments: packet monitoring, analytics, offensive cyber, mobile location and forensics, lawful intercept, social media intelligence (SOCMINT), facial recognition, voice biometrics and other forms of open source intelligence (OSINT), plus relevant forms of artificial intelligence that automate performance. Also included: military-focused technologies that deliver or intercept intelligence at the tactical edge, such as forward-looking infrared (FLIR), RF monitoring, Electro-Optical/Infrared, eLoran, and systems with the power to take control of critical infrastructure. "The Big Black Book of Electronic Surveillance" is at once a textbook, a manual for government agencies charged with safeguarding national security, and an encyclopedia on this vital industry. Surveillance is a business. Among the largest players are IT and communications industry giants that quietly develop and profit from surveillance solutions. Laws that authorize and govern their work are quite similar from one country to the next. Democratic nations such as the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands are little more constrained in deploying surveillance solutions than are Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and other authoritarian regimes. For the most part, government agencies are not technology innovators, but rather, end-users of solutions developed and deployed by Intelligence Systems Support (ISS) vendors. The power that governments exercise via current modes of electronic surveillance will be dwarfed by what comes next: advances in artificial intelligence and quantum computing that take surveillance to the next level.

This manual sets forth the procedures established by the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice to obtain authorization to conduct electronic surveillance pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2510-2522 (2001) (Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA), the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of1994 (CALEA), the Anti Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (Anti Terrorism Act)), the USA-Patriot Act of 2001, and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and discusses the statutory requirements of each of the pleadings. This manual is divided into two sections. The first section provides an overview of the procedures to follow when applying for authorization to conduct electronic surveillance, and discusses format, statutory and policy requirements, and pertinent case law concerning specific electronic surveillance issues. The second section provides sample forms pertaining to electronic surveillance involving wire, oral and electronic communication interceptions, pen register/trap and trace procedures, access to transactional data and stored wire and electronic communications, and the use of tracking devices. Topics include: THE ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE UNIT TITLE III AUTHORIZATION PROCESS THE ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE PLEADINGS-The Application, The Affidavit, and The Order ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS-Coverage under Title III and Stored Electronic Communications ROVING INTERCEPTIONS-Roving Oral Interception and Roving Wire or Electronic Interception EMERGENCY PROCEDURES-Title III Interceptions, Pen Register/Trap and Trace Devices SEALING-Overview, When to Seal, Sealing Delays, How to Seal/Custody of the Tapes, and Suppression for Failure to Seal Properly DISCLOSURE OF TITLE III EVIDENCE-Use and Disclosure of Interception Information, Testimonial Use, Privileged Communications, and Use of "other Crimes" Evidence PEN REGISTERS/TRAPS AND TRACES THE LEGAL AUTHORITIES REQUIRED TO LOCATE CELLULAR TELEPHONES-Compelling Providers to Disclose Cellphone Location Records, Obtaining Historical Records from Cellular Providers, Compelling Providers to Collect Cell Phone Location Information Prospectively, Collection of Cell Phone Location Information Directly by Law Enforcement, The Pen/Trap Statute, As Amended By the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and The Inapplicability of CALEA's Prohibition on Collection Using Pen/Trap Authority MOBILE TRACKING DEVICES VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SAMPLES: Application for Wire and/or Oral Interceptions Affidavit for Oral and/or Wire Interception Order for Interception of Wire and/or Oral Communications Order to Service Provider Sample Minimization Instructions for Oral and Wire Communications Application for Electronic Communications Interception Affidavit for Electronic Communications Interception Order for Interception of Electronic Communications Sample Title III Roving Affidavit Order for Sealing Application for 2703(d) Court Order 2703(d) Court Order Application for Trap and Trace/Pen Register Order for Trap and Trace/Pen Register Application for Order Permitting Government To Use Its Own Pen Register/Trap and Trace Equipment (Triggerfish/Digital Analyzer or Similar Device) Order Permitting Government To Use Its Own Pen Register/Trap and Trace Equipment (Triggerfish/Digital Analyzer or Similar Device) Combined 3123/2703 Application Combined 3123/2703 Order Application for Video Surveillance Order for Video Surveillance Application for Disclosure Order for Disclosure of Interceptions Section 2517(5) Application for Testimonial Use of Interceptions Relating to "Other Offenses" Section 2517(5) Order Permitting Testimonial Use of Interceptions Relating to "Other Offenses" Inventory Application Order for Inventory Inventory Notice Affidavit for Mobile Tracking Device Order for Mobile Tracking Device