What year was the first federal legislation attempting to regulate electronic surveillance enacted?

The first federal legislation attempting to regulate electronic surveillance was enacted in 1934 with the Communications Act. This act laid the groundwork for how electronic communications would be monitored and regulated, particularly emphasizing the control of the burgeoning fields of radio and telephony. The need for regulation arose as electronic communications technology was rapidly advancing, and there was a growing concern about privacy and the unauthorized surveillance of individuals.

The Communications Act of 1934 specifically aimed to address these emerging issues by establishing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and giving it authority over the regulation of communications by wire and radio. This was a crucial step in formalizing the legal framework to manage electronic surveillance while balancing national security interests and the protection of individual privacy rights.

Earlier years such as 1910 focused primarily on different aspects of legislation, while later developments in the 1960s, particularly the Wiretap Act of 1968, would build on the foundation established in 1934, indicating the ongoing evolution of laws surrounding electronic surveillance.