Privacy Rights

Learn about your evolving rights during the Information Age, and get guidance on what's protected vs. what's not.

Can a journalist be forced to reveal confidential sources?

Can a journalist be forced to reveal confidential sources? The answer appears to be no...as long as that journalist is willing to go to jail.

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Are literary parodies protected under the first amendment?

What if you decided to rewrite F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby? Good luck with that. But wait: your protagonist is not Nick…

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Smile, you're on my cellphone: Camera phones and privacy

The Video Voyeurism Prevention Act was passed in Congress to prevent invasions of privacy. What does this mean? It means you have some rights.

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Privacy and technology: Is technology doing away with our privacy?

Since the advent of the smartphone, more people have come to rely on the many services it can provide. But unencrypted data can expose to almost…

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When can the police stop and frisk you on the street?

A look at the history of 'stop and frisk,' and the circumstances required to make its use legal.

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What's the deal with lie detectors?

The history and current worldview of lie detectors.

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Free speech primer: What can you say?

The First Amendment, aka the right to freedom of speech, gives you the right to speak freely on any subject without government restriction or…

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Do bloggers receive the same 'source' protection as mainstream journalists?

Apple Computer Inc. sued 25 unnamed individuals, possibly Apple employees, who allegedly leaked specifications about a digital music product code…

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When can the police search the trunk of a car?

The fourth amendment, as it is generally understood, protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. But, what happens if you get pulled over by a…

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Can you be sued for sending an email?

A case of nasty emails and one company's desire to track down the sender offers a lesson in your first amendment rights.

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