What is the current state of privacy regarding electronic mail? How would you compare it to the level of privacy traditionally associated with postal mail?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986 expanded provisions found with the PPA and applied the wiretap provisions originally articulated in Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Acts of 1968 . In the most basic sense, ECPA applied Title III to non-aural electronic communications, including e-mail. The language also applied such to wireless communications. Theoretically, it was designed to enhance privacy interests of citizens. Although it provided for the punishment of individuals illegally gaining access to computers, it did not exclude evidence collected in violation of same. Although computers can be seized with warrants and without warrants during exigent circumstances, the searching contents of a computer requires a warrant. Officers must still maintain the focus of the warrant, although there are circumstances in which material on the computer are in plain view. For the most part electronic mail and postal mail have similar expectations of privacy and need for search warrants. Consensual searches of computers are also applicable under the boundaries for traditional consent searches. Although information in a computer network and the use of a warrant or application of consent to search does create differences when compared to traditional mail.