Those days are (almost) over. Advances in telephone technology, particularly digital and fiber optic transmissions, are fast making traditional wiretapping procedures obsolete. New high-capacity lines pack hundreds of conversations in bit streams. Finding that suspicious conversation among the maze takes an expert hand. Indeed, it's reached the point where law enforcement agencies are looking for help. Last fall the Justice Department proposed legislation that would require US phone companies to give law entbrcement officials technical assistance in authorized wiretapping procedures. Moreover, it calls for industry to start designing products with tapability built in. Not surprisingly, this proposal has ignited fevered debates over protection versus privacy. The FBI says it simply seeks to maintain the tapping power authorized over 25 years ago in federal law. Privacy proponents, however, say giving the government access to untold numbers of innocent conversations will pose a myriad of problems and concerns. The following editorial debate examines the many sensitive issues involved in this pending legislation, Dorothy Denning presents the case for the proposed digital telephony plan, exploring the technical possibilities and urging trust in governmental usage. Her article is followed by a collection of comments from noted representatives of industry, government and law who argue points of privacy, competitiveness and technological abuse. This debate concludes with a rejoinder by Denning.• tBOIm~'HEACM/March 1993/Vol. 3 [i, No. 3 25