Source: http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section2511&num=0&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 17:02:16+00:00

Document:
shall be punished as provided in subsection (4) or shall be subject to suit as provided in subsection (5).
(2)(a)(i) It shall not be unlawful under this chapter for an operator of a switchboard, or an officer, employee, or agent of a provider of wire or electronic communication service, whose facilities are used in the transmission of a wire or electronic communication, to intercept, disclose, or use that communication in the normal course of his employment while engaged in any activity which is a necessary incident to the rendition of his service or to the protection of the rights or property of the provider of that service, except that a provider of wire communication service to the public shall not utilize service observing or random monitoring except for mechanical or service quality control checks.
setting forth the period of time during which the provision of the information, facilities, or technical assistance is authorized and specifying the information, facilities, or technical assistance required. No provider of wire or electronic communication service, officer, employee, or agent thereof, or landlord, custodian, or other specified person shall disclose the existence of any interception or surveillance or the device used to accomplish the interception or surveillance with respect to which the person has been furnished a court order or certification under this chapter, except as may otherwise be required by legal process and then only after prior notification to the Attorney General or to the principal prosecuting attorney of a State or any political subdivision of a State, as may be appropriate. Any such disclosure, shall render such person liable for the civil damages provided for in section 2520. No cause of action shall lie in any court against any provider of wire or electronic communication service, its officers, employees, or agents, landlord, custodian, or other specified person for providing information, facilities, or assistance in accordance with the terms of a court order, statutory authorization, or certification under this chapter.
(iii) If a certification under subparagraph (ii)(B) for assistance to obtain foreign intelligence information is based on statutory authority, the certification shall identify the specific statutory provision and shall certify that the statutory requirements have been met.
(b) It shall not be unlawful under this chapter for an officer, employee, or agent of the Federal Communications Commission, in the normal course of his employment and in discharge of the monitoring responsibilities exercised by the Commission in the enforcement of chapter 5 of title 47 of the United States Code, to intercept a wire or electronic communication, or oral communication transmitted by radio, or to disclose or use the information thereby obtained.
(c) It shall not be unlawful under this chapter for a person acting under color of law to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication, where such person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to such interception.
(d) It shall not be unlawful under this chapter for a person not acting under color of law to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication where such person is a party to the communication or where one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to such interception unless such communication is intercepted for the purpose of committing any criminal or tortious act in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States or of any State.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title or section 705 or 706 of the Communications Act of 1934, it shall not be unlawful for an officer, employee, or agent of the United States in the normal course of his official duty to conduct electronic surveillance, as defined in section 101 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as authorized by that Act.
(f) Nothing contained in this chapter or chapter 121 or 206 of this title, or section 705 of the Communications Act of 1934, shall be deemed to affect the acquisition by the United States Government of foreign intelligence information from international or foreign communications, or foreign intelligence activities conducted in accordance with otherwise applicable Federal law involving a foreign electronic communications system, utilizing a means other than electronic surveillance as defined in section 101 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, and procedures in this chapter or chapter 121 and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 shall be the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance, as defined in section 101 of such Act, and the interception of domestic wire, oral, and electronic communications may be conducted.
(v) for other users of the same frequency to intercept any radio communication made through a system that utilizes frequencies monitored by individuals engaged in the provision or the use of such system, if such communication is not scrambled or encrypted.
(ii) for a provider of electronic communication service to record the fact that a wire or electronic communication was initiated or completed in order to protect such provider, another provider furnishing service toward the completion of the wire or electronic communication, or a user of that service, from fraudulent, unlawful or abusive use of such service.
(IV) such interception does not acquire communications other than those transmitted to or from the computer trespasser.
(j) It shall not be unlawful under this chapter for a provider of electronic communication service to the public or remote computing service to intercept or disclose the contents of a wire or electronic communication in response to an order from a foreign government that is subject to an executive agreement that the Attorney General has determined and certified to Congress satisfies section 2523.
(iv) which were inadvertently obtained by the service provider and which appear to pertain to the commission of a crime, if such divulgence is made to a law enforcement agency.
(4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection or in subsection (5), whoever violates subsection (1) of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
is not an offense under this subsection unless the conduct is for the purposes of direct or indirect commercial advantage or private financial gain.
then the person who engages in such conduct shall be subject to suit by the Federal Government in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(B) if the violation of this chapter is a second or subsequent offense under paragraph (a) of subsection (4) or such person has been found liable in any prior civil action under section 2520, the person shall be subject to a mandatory $500 civil fine.
(b) The court may use any means within its authority to enforce an injunction issued under paragraph (ii)(A), and shall impose a civil fine of not less than $500 for each violation of such an injunction.
Pub. L. 110–261, title IV, §403(b)(2), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2474 , as amended by Pub. L. 112–238, §2(a)(2), Dec. 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 1631 ; Pub. L. 115–118, title II, §201(a)(2), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 19 , provided that, except as provided in section 404 of Pub. L. 110–261, set out as a note under section 1801 of Title 50, War and National Defense, effective Dec. 31, 2023, paragraph (2)(a)(ii)(A) of this section is amended by striking "or a court order pursuant to section 704 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978".
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, referred to in par. (2)(e), (f), is Pub. L. 95–511, Oct. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 1783 , which is classified principally to chapter 36 (§1801 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense. Sections 101 and 704 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, referred to in par. (2)(a)(ii), (e), and (f), are classified to sections 1801 and 1881c of Title 50, respectively. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of Title 50 and Tables.
Sections 633, 705, and 706 of the Communications Act of 1934, referred to in par. (2)(e), (f), (g)(iii), are classified to sections 553, 605, and 606 of Title 47, Telecommunications, respectively.
For information regarding constitutionality of certain provisions of this section, as amended by section 101(c)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 99–508, see Congressional Research Service, The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, Appendix 1, Acts of Congress Held Unconstitutional in Whole or in Part by the Supreme Court of the United States.
2018-Par. (2)(j). Pub. L. 115–141 added subpar. (j).
2008-Par. (2)(a)(ii)(A). Pub. L. 110–261, §101(c)(1), inserted "or a court order pursuant to section 704 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978" after "assistance".
Par. (2)(a)(iii). Pub. L. 110–261, §102(c)(1), added cl. (iii).
2002-Par. (2)(a)(ii). Pub. L. 107–296, §2207(h)(2), formerly §225(h)(2), as renumbered by Pub. L. 115–278, §2(g)(2)(I), inserted ", statutory authorization," after "terms of a court order" in concluding provisions.
"(ii) if the communication is the radio portion of a cellular telephone communication, a cordless telephone communication that is transmitted between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit, a public land mobile radio service communication or a paging service communication, the offender shall be fined under this title."
2001-Par. (2)(f). Pub. L. 107–56, §204, substituted "this chapter or chapter 121 or 206 of this title, or section 705 of the Communications Act of 1934" for "this chapter or chapter 121, or section 705 of the Communications Act of 1934" and "wire, oral, and electronic communications" for "wire and oral communications".
Par. (2)(i). Pub. L. 107–56, §217(2), added subpar. (i).
1996-Par. (1)(e)(i). Pub. L. 104–294 substituted "sections 2511(2)(a)(ii), 2511(2)(b)–(c), 2511(2)(e), 2516, and 2518 of this chapter" for "sections 2511(2)(A)(ii), 2511(b)–(c), 2511(e), 2516, and 2518 of this subchapter".
1994-Par. (1)(e). Pub. L. 103–322, §320901, added par. (1)(e).
Par. (2)(a)(i). Pub. L. 103–414, §205, inserted "or electronic" after "transmission of a wire".
Par. (4)(b). Pub. L. 103–414, §204, in introductory provisions substituted ", encrypted, or transmitted using modulation techniques the essential parameters of which have been withheld from the public with the intention of preserving the privacy of such communication, then" for "or encrypted, then".
Par. (4)(b)(i). Pub. L. 103–414, §202(b)(1), inserted "a cordless telephone communication that is transmitted between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit," after "cellular telephone communication,".
Par. (4)(b)(ii). Pub. L. 103–414, §202(b)(2), inserted "a cordless telephone communication that is transmitted between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit," after "cellular telephone communication,".
Pub. L. 103–322, §330016(1)(G), substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $500".
1986-Pub. L. 99–508, §101(c)(1)(A), substituted "wire, oral, or electronic" for "wire or oral" in section catchline.
Par. (1). Pub. L. 99–508, §101(c)(1)(A), (d)(1), (f)[(1)], substituted "intentionally" for "willfully" in subpars. (a) to (d) and "wire, oral, or electronic' for "wire or oral" wherever appearing in subpars. (a), (c), and (d), and in concluding provisions substituted "shall be punished as provided in subsection (4) or shall be subject to suit as provided in subsection (5)" for "shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both".
Par. (2)(a)(i). Pub. L. 99–508, §101(c)(5), substituted "a provider of wire or electronic communication service" for "any communication common carrier" and "of the provider of that service, except that a provider of wire communication service to the public" for "of the carrier of such communication: Provided, That said communication common carriers".
Par. (2)(a)(ii). Pub. L. 99–508, §101(b)(1), (c)(1)(A), (6), substituted "providers of wire or electronic communication service" for "communication common carriers", "wire, oral, or electronic" for "wire or oral", "if such provider" for "if the common carrier", "provider of wire or electronic communication service" for "communication common carrier" wherever appearing, "such disclosure" for "violation of this subparagraph by a communication common carrier or an officer, employee, or agent thereof", "render such person liable" for "render the carrier liable", and "a court order or certification under this chapter" for "an order or certification under this subparagraph" in two places.
Par. (2)(b). Pub. L. 99–508, §101(c)(1)(B), inserted "or electronic" after "wire".
Par. (2)(c). Pub. L. 99–508, §101(c)(1)(A), substituted "wire, oral, or electronic" for "wire or oral".
Par. (2)(d). Pub. L. 99–508, §101(b)(2), (c)(1)(A), substituted "wire, oral, or electronic" for "wire or oral" and struck out "or for the purpose of committing any other injurious act" after "of any State".
Par. (2)(f). Pub. L. 99–508, §101(b)(3), inserted "or chapter 121" in two places and substituted "foreign communications, or foreign intelligence activities conducted in accordance with otherwise applicable Federal law involving a foreign electronic communications system, utilizing a means" for "foreign communications by a means".
Par. (2)(g), (h). Pub. L. 99–508, §101(b)(4), added subpars. (g) and (h).
Par. (3). Pub. L. 99–508, §102, added par. (3).
Pars. (4), (5). Pub. L. 99–508, §101(d)(2), added pars. (4) and (5).
1984-Par. (2)(e). Pub. L. 98–549, §6(b)(2)(A), substituted "section 705 or 706" for "section 605 or 606".
Par. (2)(f). Pub. L. 98–549, §6(b)(2)(B), substituted "section 705" for "section 605".
1978-Par. (2)(a)(ii). Pub. L. 95–511, §201(a), substituted provisions authorizing communication common carriers etc., to provide information to designated persons, prohibiting disclosure of intercepted information, and rendering violators civilly liable for provision exempting communication common carriers from criminality for giving information to designated officers.
Par. (2)(e), (f). Pub. L. 95–511, §201(b), added par. (2)(e) and (f).
Par. (3). Pub. L. 95–511, §201(c), struck out par. (3) which provided that nothing in this chapter or section 605 of title 47 limited the President's constitutional power to gather necessary intelligence to protect the national security and stated the conditions necessary for the reception into evidence and disclosure of communications intercepted by the President.
1970-Par. (2)(a). Pub. L. 91–358 designated existing provisions as cl. (i) and added cl. (ii).
Amendments by sections 101(c)(1) and 102(c)(1) of Pub. L. 110–261 effective July 10, 2008, except as otherwise provided in section 404 of Pub. L. 110–261, set out as a Transition Procedures note under section 1801 of Title 50, War and National Defense, see section 402 of Pub. L. 110–261, set out as a note under section 1801 of Title 50.
Pub. L. 110–261, title IV, §403(b)(2), July 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 2474 , as amended by Pub. L. 112–238, §2(a)(2), Dec. 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 1631 ; Pub. L. 115–118, title II, §201(a)(2), Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 19 , provided that, except as provided in section 404 of Pub. L. 110–261, set out as a Transition Procedures note under section 1801 of Title 50, War and National Defense, the amendments made by section 403(b)(2) are effective Dec. 31, 2023.
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–508 effective 90 days after Oct. 21, 1986, and, in case of conduct pursuant to court order or extension, applicable only with respect to court orders and extensions made after such date, with special rule for State authorizations of interceptions, see section 111 of Pub. L. 99–508, set out as a note under section 2510 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–549 effective 60 days after Oct. 30, 1984, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 98–549, set out as an Effective Date note under section 521 of Title 47, Telecommunications.
Amendment by Pub. L. 95–511 effective Oct. 25, 1978, except as specifically provided, see section 401 of Pub. L. 95–511, formerly set out as an Effective Date note under section 1801 of Title 50, War and National Defense.
Amendment by Pub. L. 91–358 effective on first day of seventh calendar month which begins after July 29, 1970, see section 901(a) of Pub. L. 91–358.

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 §2207
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 §330016
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