Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!ogicse!milton!sumax!halcyon!walter From: halcyon!walter@sumax.seattleu.edu (walter) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: e-mail privacy Keywords: Privacy ECPA Message-ID: Date: 3 Mar 91 17:39:42 GMT References: <13628@life.ai.mit.edu> Organization: The 23:00 News and Mail Service Lines: 29 rkan@mole.ai.mit.edu (R. Kan) writes: > > I have reason to believe that my e-mail is being monitored by > my sysadmins on another system that I am on. They have stated > that since the university owns the computer, I have no right to > privacy on the system even though I have not signed any statements > saying I give up my rights in order to use the system. Is this Your rights, under the law, to privacy on the system you mention are, for the most part, covered in the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (Federal statute). If you were given to expect privacy on this system, you might have a cause for grievance under the ECPA. However, the ECPA allows for operators of systems such as the one to which you refer a certain amount of leeway in viewing private conversations/E-Mail as an incident to system maintenance. This, of course, does not mean that whatever information is discovered can be revealed or used elsewhere unless such information relates to illegal activity. It's also important to note that systems can, and do, disclaim facilities for private E-Mail. If the claim is technically valid, then you should expect NOT to have privacy on that system. Walter -- halcyon!walter@sumax.seattleu.edu The 23:00 News and Mail Service - +1 206 292 9048 - Seattle, WA USA +++ A Waffle Iron +++