What is the Electronic Communications Privacy Act?
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act is a law enacted by the US Congress in 1986 which sets provisions on what privacy rights people have when they use telephones, computers, cellphones or other means of electric transmission of communication like faxes or texting. In 1986, the provisions of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act did not include some of the newer forms of communication developed since then. Yet these communication forms like text messaging are still covered under the law. Essentially, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act maintains that it is illegal to use any form of electronic communication to convict or accuse someone of a crime without obtaining a prior search warrant. It is also, according to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, illegal to listen in on communications to obtain a search warrant, or to interrupt transmissions. Doing so is considered illegal search and seizure. For example, in the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the police c
