Which act protects email messages from unauthorized interception?

The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) is the legislation that specifically protects email messages from unauthorized interception. Enacted in 1986, the ECPA extends government restrictions on wire taps and electronic eavesdropping to include government and private intrusion into communication stored on computer systems. This protection covers both the transmission of email and the storage of those communications on servers, ensuring a level of privacy for users and making unauthorized monitoring or interception illegal.

The importance of the ECPA is underscored in a digital environment where email is a primary method of communication. By criminalizing the unauthorized interception of electronic communications, the ECPA addresses concerns regarding privacy and security in the digital age, thereby providing essential legal recourse for individuals whose communications might be unlawfully monitored.

Other acts, such as the FCC Act, are primarily related to the regulation of communications by the Federal Communications Commission but do not specifically focus on email privacy. The DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) addresses copyright issues in the digital realm, while HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) focuses on the protection of health information and does not pertain to email interception.