T 5.123 Bugging of indoor conversations using portable terminal devices

A large number of portable terminal devices such as laptops, PDAs or mobile telephones are now equipped with a microphone or camera. Using these devices, it is not only possible to record ideas or snapshots when on the move, they can also be used for the surreptitious recording or bugging of conversations (see also T 5.95 Bugging of indoor conversations over mobile phones).

A PDA can be used for this purpose, for instance, by placing it inconspicuously in a room, e. g. during a meeting.

Participants in meetings will not normally expect the entire meeting to be recorded.

Example:

• In a meeting almost all participants have their laptops with them and also use them incessantly during the meeting. One of the participants inconspicuously activated the microphone on his computer. Like the majority of portable terminal devices, here it is also not noticeable to the other users that the microphone is switched on. The participant recorded the entire meeting and cut small sections from the recording. As these were taken out of context, he was able to successfully create a different result for the meeting.