“Justices: People have right to privacy in texts”
“People have a right to privacy in the text messages they send from their phones, even if they can’t know for sure who might be reading them, Washington’s Supreme Court held in two related cases Thursday [Feb. 27].”
“Writing for the majority in both cases, Justice Steven Gonzalez said the men had an expectation of privacy in the content of their text messages, just as they would have if they sent a sealed letter or made a phone call, and that Washington state residents have an expectation that their text messages won’t be read by police without a warrant.
‘Text messages can encompass the same intimate subjects as phone calls, sealed letters and other traditional forms of communication that have historically been strongly protected under Washington law, Gonzalez wrote.”
“The U.S. Supreme Court is due to hear arguments in April about whether police are allowed under the U.S. Constitution to search a suspect’s cellphone without a warrant…. Washington’s Constitution is considered to be more protective of privacy than the federal Fourth Amendment, which prevents unreasonable searches and seizures, quoting the AP.
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Editor’s Note:
This is a huge victory for in the protection of expectancy of privacy and rights of all citizens in this state.