Statement of Rep. Dick Armey (R-TX). Re: Opposition to Carnivore. Date: September 6, 2000. Source: Office of the House Majority Leader.

Last month, I joined 28 Members of Congress in asking Attorney General Janet Reno to suspend use of the Carnivore cybersnooping system until doubts about its privacy implications could be resolved. The Washington Post has questioned the system, citing recent court rulings that "cast further legal doubt on Carnivore."

The Justice Department has not responded to our request. They have refused to suspend the use of Carnivore while the program is in question. Instead, Attorney General Reno has proposed to handpick a single University to review the system-a plan that is woefully inadequate.

USA Today reports today that five groups of researchers have already backed out of the competition to review Carnivore. According to one of them, "This is not a request for an independent report. They want a rubber stamp."

Despite our best efforts to convince the Attorney General of the importance of personal privacy, she has refused to budge. Until the privacy questions have been adequately resolved, or some kind of legal guidelines like those Chairman Canady's bill have been enacted, Carnivore should be shut down.

This move will ensure the American people will have confidence in the security of their most personal communications.