"The right of the people
to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures, shall not be violated..." - the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Encryption is technology that encodes
computer files and communications so their owner can control who reads them. Access to
encrypted files and communications requires a key, much like a bank card PIN number
provides computerized access to a bank account. These technologies are critical to
protecting privacy and promoting electronic commerce in our Information Age society. But
your rights are at risk.
Right now the FBI is asking Congress for the right to view the encrypted computer files
of consumers, businesses, institutions, and even governments- without the owner's
knowledge.
Constitutional
Resources
The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution
protects the privacy of all Americans from unreasonable intrusions. Today, many Americans
face what may be the greatest threat to our right to privacy since our founding fathers
guaranteed it more than 200 years ago in the form of requirements to disclose the keys to
your electronic communication.
Browse the resources below, provided by Americans for Computer Privacy, that detail
your Constitutionally-protected right to privacy in the Information Age.
Testimony Before
Congress |