The Privacy of E-Mail

The Privacy of E-Mail

Today the Internet is being used more and more frequently, and the question of e-mail privacy is becoming more and more of an issue in society. Many people today, both at work and at home, are using e-mail to keep in touch with their friends, family, and their co-workers. Sometimes the information that is contained in these messages is private and confidential, neither the sender nor the receiver wish any one else to be privy to what is contained in these messages. What happens if that very private piece of mail is intercepted and read by those whom it is not meant for? For some people it might only be a slight problem, but for others it could cause some serious problems. It also brings up the issue of who actually has the right to read e-mail. Is it acceptable for someone's boss or employer to be reading e-mail that is not meant for them, and is it acceptable for the police to read the private e-mail of those whom they suspect have been involved a crime? There are dozens questions that arise when a person is discussing the issue of e-mail privacy and just who has the right to read what some one else has sent to a person, something that might contain a message that they do not want read by anyone else.

In 1986 the Electronic Communications Privacy Act was put into effect by Congress, this act was designed to protect the users of e-mail from having to worry about others reading what they consider to be a private message. In basic terms the act states that e-mail is not to be intercepted by an outside third party without the proper authorization. It also states that the police are not able to search and seize a persons e-mail unless they are in the possesion of a warrant authorizing them to do so. Whil...

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