Here we go again

[unixronin]

The NY Times reports that the Feds are at it again:

Federal law enforcement and national security officials are preparing to seek sweeping new regulations for the Internet, arguing that their ability to wiretap criminal and terrorism suspects is “going dark” as people increasingly communicate online instead of by telephone.

Essentially, officials want Congress to require all services that enable communications — including encrypted e-mail transmitters like BlackBerry, social networking Web sites like Facebook and software that allows direct “peer to peer” messaging like Skype — to be technically capable of complying if served with a wiretap order.  The mandate would include being able to intercept and unscramble encrypted messages.

[...]

“They are really asking for the authority to redesign services that take advantage of the unique, and now pervasive, architecture of the Internet,” [James X. Dempsey, vice president of the Center for Democracy and Technology] said.  “They basically want to turn back the clock and make Internet services function the way that the telephone system used to function.”

But law enforcement officials contend that imposing such a mandate is reasonable and necessary to prevent the erosion of their investigative powers.

Erosion of their powers?  Excuse me?

"That word ... you use it a lot.  I do not think that you know what it means."