Congressman Zach Wamp has signed a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno urging her to suspend the use and further development of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) new Internet monitoring system, Carnivore. "While national security and law enforcement are essential priorities, the use of Carnivore has crossed a line," Wamp said.

In sniffing out potential criminal activity, Carnivore could also scan private information about legal activities. This system could take in vast amounts of information from innocent people as well as the suspect. With the recent White House e-mail scandal, the Clinton-Gore Administration has proven that it cannot keep track of its own e-mail, let alone use a system to keep track of other people's electronic messages.

The Internet should be as free as possible from government intrusion so it can allow Americans to prosper; and until these serious privacy issues have been addressed, Carnivore should be shut down.