In a Senate Judiciary Committee report describing this law, it was explained that this prohibition was intended to apply to "the martini olive transmitter, the spike mike, the infinity transmitter, and the microphone disguised as a wristwatch, picture frame, cuff link, tie clip, fountain pen, stapler, or cigarette pack." Similarly, it was intended to exclude things like parabolic microphones, which are not considered "primarily useful for surreptitious listening", because of their ordinary use in the broadcast coverage of sporting events.
