Feds Shy Away From Raiding Email Without Warrant

nonprofiteer writes "In December, a federal judge ruled that the 4th amendment applies to email and that the feds cannot go after it without a warrant. (We have Smilin' Bob to thank for that.) Though the federal judge's decision only applies to the four states in his jurisdiction, it looks like federal agencies are applying it nationally. An internal email written by the IRS general counsel cites the law and says that its collectors can no longer get the contents of suspected tax cheats' email by sending letters to their ISPs, though it can get non-content information, like who they email and how they pay for their accounts."

Good to hear

[msobkow]

It's good to hear the US government isn't fighting the courts tooth and nail whenever there's a judgement against them. I with the same were true in Canada. The Harper government is hell bent on getting around a number of court orders on a variety of policies. They have their vision, and nothing will stop them -- not the will of the people, not the recommendations of scientists and experts, not statistics, and certainly not the objections of people in foreign nations (including the US. Thanks to the Texas conservatives for supporting the Canadian public's view that a prison state is not the way to go.)

The Harper government thinks a majority is a dictatorship.

I refuse to call it the Canadian government because there is nothing Canadian about the way it's treating the farmers, the stewardesses, the postal union, the medical cannabis patients, ...

Let Mark do it.

[ackthpt]

The FBI will have to get the goods on people from Mark Zuckerberg, he's got the dirt on everyone.

Re:Good to hear

[mr1911]

It is good to see such optimism. They are taking an "official" position they will adhere to the ruling. In practice, you will see the abuses continue. Why? Because the government is not being held accountable.

Put the offending government employee in prison and defund/disband the agency. Then you will see them behave. With no accountability, nothing will change.

In the end it is our fault. We get the government that we tolerate.

There are four boxes to be used in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury and ammo. Please use in that order.

Re:Implying..

[Anonymous Coward]

since when have that stopped them?

Re:Already Have It

[CrimsonAvenger]

but not be restrained by the Constitution and pesky laws like this and the FOIA.

You have evidence that the government is restrained by the Constitution and the FOIA?