Phone calls?

Question

I'v seen a movie where the goverment listens to you when you are on the phone and I am wondering if it's true. I just never thought about that and like to know if it happens in the real world. And also if they do how come they can't stop bad people sometime if they are planning something and saying it on the phone? It just doesn't make any sense.

Answer 1

Well, they certainly can do if they need to. But you would have to give them a reason to listen in first. Certain "keywords" are flagged up if they are used, but generally only lines of suspected terrorists/criminals are bugged.