Communications Privacy

Communications Privacy is the right to be free from unauthorized monitoring of your telephone calls, emails, and other forms of communication.

The Communications Privacy Act (CPA) of 1986 was enacted to protect telephone conversations from unauthorized interception and disclosure. The CPA only applies to wire, oral or electronic communications, but not to data stored on computers or the Internet.

The CPA provides that no person may intentionally intercept or disclose the contents of any wire, oral or electronic communication unless they are authorized by one of several exceptions listed in the Act.