A US appeals court this week has decided to allow citizens to examine records on government eavesdropping and wire tapping of their mobile phones. The District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that police can be forced to disclose their wiretapping of cell phone calls if such eavesdropping was conducted without a warrant. This is especially true when the wiretaps supported a criminal conviction.

This decision could also force agents to reveal tapping on wireless laptops. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit with the appeals court, which ruled unanimously in their favor. The opinion was that forcing police to reveal these records would shed light on the scope of cell phone tracking by law enforcement and its effectiveness. This issue has become more pertinent following the 9/11 terrorist attacks as Congress expanded police authority on domestic spying.