Despite what many people may believe, the content of personal e-mails is not completely private. For example, the FBI is able to access the content of e-mails when deemed necessary to track the movements of suspected terrorists and other criminals. DCS1000, previously known as “Carnivore,” is a government device that the bureau uses to retrieve the e-mail of private citizens. If a court grants permission for a wiretap, the device is hooked up to the network of the appropriate Internet service provider (ISP), where it then searches e-mail traffic, looking for names of suspected senders and recipients or certain keywords in the subject line and body of e-mails. Not surprisingly, DCS1000 has raised questions about Americans’ right to privacy in the Information Age.

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States have prompted calls for increased monitoring...