Electronic Communication Privacy Act Of 1986 (ECPA)

The power of technology has grown continuously over the past thirty years. Businesses have harnessed its strength to boost efficiency and productivity in the workplace. Aside from technological advances in the areas of production machinery and transportation, improvements in communication technology have impacted the workplace and changed the way people define business. The affect Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986 has on Employee Privacy in the workplace. Robyne Green says, “It’s crucial Congress act on ECPA reform so that Americans can feel safe in their 4th amendment rights.” (Wired) Employers have tried to encourage productive work habits, advanced forms of technology, like computers and smartphones, and raise issues of employee privacy policy within the workplace. The Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA) was designed to protect people’s private information when using services that involved technology. “To protect the array of privacy interests identified by its drafters, the [Act] offers varying degrees of legal protection depending on the perceived importance of the privacy interest involved” (ECPA) The amount of regulation of privacy interest is determined on information stored, whether subscription online or private email account.

Title I of the ECPA, also known as the Wiretap Act, prohibits “international, actual, or attempted interception, use, [or] disclosure of any wire, oral, or electronic communication.” (ECPA) The people that are eligible to perform a search are cleared under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. Court judges issue court orders to look through phone records and emails if an individual is suspect of taking part in criminal activity. In addition to this ability of the courts, they still need an enough evidence to prove that there is a reason to step in on an individual’s