The Privacy of Email

An Anonymous Coward writes "A U.S. appeals court in Ohio has ruled that e-mail messages stored on Internet servers are protected by the Constitution as are telephone conversations and that a federal law permitting warrantless secret searches of e-mail violates the Fourth Amendment. 'The Stored Communications Act is very important,' former federal prosecutor and counter-terrorism specialist Andrew McCarthy told United Press International. But the future of the law now hangs in the balance."

Comments

McCarthy?

[Red Flayer]

This is about overturning aspects of the 1986 Stored Communications Act. FTA:

'The Stored Communications Act is very important,' former federal prosecutor and counter-terrorism specialist Andrew McCarthy told United Press International. But the future of the law now hangs in the balance.
[snip]
Some observers warned that the ruling might hamper federal counter-terrorism efforts.
[snip]
'The USA Patriot Act broke down the wall between intelligence and law enforcement. Criminal prosecutors can now share information with the intelligence side of the house,' [McCarthy] said.

But if the ruling stopped prosecutors from gathering information, it could not be passed along. 'If you can`t get it, you can`t share it,' he said.

Is it just me, or would it have been a little smarter for the government to use a mouthpiece with a name other than McCarthy when discussing tactics for terrorist witch-hunts?