The
FBI has software that can search
e-mail. I believe this is called
Project Carnivore. Many people believe the FBI has the right to do such a thing. "It is for
catching criminals, plus, I don't care if the FBI runs through my e-mail." There are two problems associated with this, the
slippery slope and the right to privacy.
The slippery slope suggests that if we allow the FBI to search our e-mail, the FBI will feel as if they are able to infringe on our rights even more. Where will it end?
We have a right to privacy established through the Supreme Court's interpretation of the 9th Amendment. While no one has challenged the right to privacy on e-mail, it is comparable to regular mail. I would hope that I receive the same amount of security in my e-mail as I do from the Postal Service.