FBI cannot handle load of electronic evidence

The FBI's collection of intercepted emails and wiretapped phone calls has soared in recent years, but its ability to sort through the potential evidence has failed to keep up with what it receives. A new report by the Justice Department's inspector general finds that the FBI is still in the dark ages when it comes to analyzing the stream of data that's being picked up with electronic devices.

"Not reviewing such material increases the risk that the FBI will not detect information in its possession that may be important to its counterterrorism and counterintelligence efforts," said the report, issued by the office of the department's inspector general, Glenn A. Fine.

The FBI said it's working on reducing its backload of audio records and electronic documents, and is looking at hiring more linguists to help out.

"The FBI remains committed to reviewing all foreign language material in a timely manner and setting priorities to ensure that the most important material receives the most immediate attention," the agency said in a statement.

The bureau has been criticized in two previous inspector general reports for failing to work down significant backlogs in reviewing information in other language, which has become increasingly important since the 9-11 terrorist attacks. One of the IG reports also said the FBI failed to review more than 8 million electronic files. Nearly all of that backlog dates from 2008, when the bureau's intake of such materials for all types of investigations nearly tripled, to 46 million files.

For more on the FBI's shortcomings on electronic data:
- see this New York Times article

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