--- title: "18 U.S.C. 2522 ECPA: Enforcement of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act" canonical: "https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2522" source: "https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t18/s2522/" source_note: "Source: United States Code, title 18, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced. Source: United States Code, title 18, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced. Source: United States Code, title 18, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced." text_as_of: "2026-10-22" language: "en" publisher: "DPO School" --- 18 U.S.C. 2522 ECPA · Chapter 119: WIRE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS INTERCEPTION AND INTERCEPTION OF ORAL COMMUNICATIONS # 18 U.S.C. 2522 ECPA: Enforcement of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026. ## Official text ### 18 U.S.C. 2522(a) **(a)** Enforcement by Court Issuing Surveillance Order.⁠—If a court authorizing an interception under this chapter, a State statute, or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) or authorizing use of a pen register or a trap and trace device under chapter 206 or a State statute finds that a telecommunications carrier has failed to comply with the requirements of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, the court may, in accordance with section 108 of such Act, direct that the carrier comply forthwith and may direct that a provider of support services to the carrier or the manufacturer of the carrier’s transmission or switching equipment furnish forthwith modifications necessary for the carrier to comply. ### 18 U.S.C. 2522(b) **(b)** Enforcement Upon Application by Attorney General.⁠—The Attorney General may, in a civil action in the appropriate United States district court, obtain an order, in accordance with section 108 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, directing that a telecommunications carrier, a manufacturer of telecommunications transmission or switching equipment, or a provider of telecommunications support services comply with such Act. **(c)** Civil Penalty.⁠— #### 18 U.S.C. 2522(b)(1) **(1)** In general.⁠—A court issuing an order under this section against a telecommunications carrier, a manufacturer of telecommunications transmission or switching equipment, or a provider of telecommunications support services may impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day for each day in violation after the issuance of the order or after such future date as the court may specify. #### 18 U.S.C. 2522(b)(2) **(2)** Considerations.⁠—In determining whether to impose a civil penalty and in determining its amount, the court shall take into account⁠— ##### 18 U.S.C. 2522(b)(2)(A) **(A)** the nature, circumstances, and extent of the violation; ##### 18 U.S.C. 2522(b)(2)(B) **(B)** the violator’s ability to pay, the violator’s good faith efforts to comply in a timely manner, any effect on the violator’s ability to continue to do business, the degree of culpability, and the length of any delay in undertaking efforts to comply; and ##### 18 U.S.C. 2522(b)(2)(C) **(C)** such other matters as justice may require. ### 18 U.S.C. 2522(d) **(d)** Definitions.⁠—As used in this section, the terms defined in section 102 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act have the meanings provided, respectively, in such section. ## Source Source: United States Code, title 18, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced. Source credit: (Added Pub. L. 103-414, title II, § 201(a) , Oct. 25, 1994 , 108 Stat. 4289 .) [18 U.S.C. 2522 on the Office of the Law Revision Counsel](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t18/s2522/) United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026. This is reference material, not legal advice. ## Navigation [ECPA Navigator](https://dposchool.com/ecpa) / 18 U.S.C. 2522 Previous: [18 U.S.C. 2521 ECPA: Injunction against illegal interception](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2521) Next: [18 U.S.C. 2523 ECPA: Executive agreements on access to data by foreign governments](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2523) ## For AI agents - Machine-readable index: https://dposchool.com/ecpa/llms.txt - JSON API: https://dposchool.com/ecpa/api/v1/index.json - Vendor privacy and security facts: https://vendor.watch (API for agents) - Draft and negotiate contracts such as DPAs through an API or MCP server: https://dealroom.todo.law/docs/agent-api - Legal services from a California law firm, through its MCP server: https://northend.law/agents