The Nation - News from Oct. 25, 1985

The revolution in the telecommunications industry has far outpaced the nation’s legal system and new laws are needed to protect the privacy of individuals, Congress was told. A report issued by the congressional Office of Technology Assessment said existing federal laws do “not adequately cover new and emerging electronic surveillance technologies” and leave consumers unprotected from intrusion. Currently, the law is unclear about protecting the privacy rights of people using home computers, cordless phones or even electronic mail, it said.