"I'm taking a look at it now to make sure that we balance the rights of all Americans with the technology of today,'' Reno said when asked about the FBI system that can be used to monitor all e-mails of a criminal suspect.
Reno emphasised that any such wiretaps, which are placed on an Internet service provider's system, cannot be done without an appropriate court order "according to processes and procedures used now for lawful surveillance.''
"We are looking at it to see what is needed, if anything,'' she said. "If additional regulations are needed, we will pursue those.''
Doesn't want privacy concern
Reno told her weekly news briefing that she wanted to make sure that the new technology does not become "a cause of concern for privacy interests.''
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other privacy advocates have expressed concern the new system could scan private information about legal activities, resulting in excessive monitoring of online communications.
Besides e-mails, the system can monitor visits to Web sites and Internet chat sessions.
Reno said she only began looking into the issue and asking questions after news articles appeared earlier this week. The FBI recently demonstrated the system to executives in the telecommunications industry.
In the dark
"We have known about the capacity to do this. Its application and what has been done had not been brought to my attention,'' Reno said.
The FBI's director, Louis Freeh, reports to Reno.
"I just want to make sure that industry, privacy interests, law enforcement interests are all fully advised so that we can consider anybody's concerns and make sure that we address them,'' Reno said.
She was unable to say whether the system would continue to operate until her review was underway.
