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From: glr@m-net.UUCP (Glen L. Roberts)
Newsgroups: news.misc,news.sysadmin
Subject: Re: E-mail protected like U.S. Mail? was: Foothead...
Message-ID: <1220@m-net.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 25-Apr-87 15:35:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: m-net.1220
Posted: Sat Apr 25 15:35:20 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 2-May-87 09:25:19 EDT
References: <1128@cartan.Berkeley.EDU} <1065@epimass.UUCP> <5553@eddie.MIT.EDU> <493@gouldsd.UUCP> <1798@whuts.UUCP>
Reply-To: glr@m-net.UUCP (Glen L. Roberts)
Organization: M-NET, Ann Arbor, MI
Lines: 28
Xref: mnetor news.misc:342 news.sysadmin:180


    The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 amended the 1968
Wiretap Act (18 U.S.C. 2500 et seq) as follows (more or less to look it up):

1) Made it illegal to listen to certain radio transmissions,
2) Made it illegal to tape data transmissions (without a warrant),
2) made it illegal to disclose electonic mail, except to:
   a) the intented receipent,
   b) any service involved in forwarded the message,
   c) the government (without a warrant), or if older than 180 days an
      administrative subpeona.

    The U.S. Mail privacy is protected by the 4th Amendment, and 18 USC 1700
et seq.

    The ECPA also made it illegal for electronic mail or remote computing
services to disclose customer records to the government, except with a
warrant, or an administrative subpoena (prior notice necessary with the
subpoena).  Also excepted from this is FBI counter-intelligence requests.

    Please use this as only a general outline, and get a copy for yourself
for all the details, exceptions, penalties, definitions, etc.

-- 
Glen L. Roberts, Box 8275-UN, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107
{!ihnp4!itivax!m-net!glr} <-- don't expect a reply, !Mail is brain damaged here
``No government door can be closed against the 1st Amendment and no
  government action is immune from its force.'' -Bursey v. US (466 F.2d 1059)