What is lawful interception?
Lawful interception (LI)
Lawful interception (LI) is the legally sanctioned official access to private communications, such as telephone calls or e-mail messages. In general, LI is a security process in which a network operator or service provider gives law enforcement agencies (LEAs) access to the communications of private individuals or organizations, in accordance with local law.
There are many bases for this activity that include infrastructure protection and cybersecurity. In general, the operator of public network infrastructure can undertake LI activities for those purposes. Operators of private network infrastructures have an inherent right to maintain LI capabilities within their own networks unless otherwise prohibited.