communication assistance for law enforcement act (CALEA)

The Communication Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) is an American federal law aimed at giving police and intelligence agencies the ability to intercept electronic communications. The law was signed by Bill Clinton in October 1994 and came into effect on January 1, 1995. It requires manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, for example, to equip their products in such a way that interception by legally authorized agencies is possible. This applies, for example, to telephony, broadband Internet and voice-over- IP.