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Back to To the Point

To the Point

David Petraeus, Paula Broadwell… and You

An FBI agent told superiors that his friend Jill Kelly was subjected to e-mail harassment. The subsequent investigation did not uncover a crime, but it ultimately forced David Petraeus to resign as Director of the CIA. The incident demonstrates how vulnerable innocent Americans are to invasions of privacy by government agencies.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

An FBI agent told superiors that his friend Jill Kelly was subjected to e-mail harassment. The subsequent investigation did not uncover a crime, but it ultimately forced David Petraeus to resign as Director of the CIA. The incident demonstrates how vulnerable innocent Americans are to invasions of privacy by government agencies. Under current law, there is no expectation of privacy for e-mail or other telecommunications, which go through third parties like Google or Facebook. The Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search does not apply, creating the potential for abuse by government agents. Can the law catch up with technology, or has the US already become a "surveillance state?"

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Caitlin Shamberg

    KCRW

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    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Frances Anderton

    architecture critic and author

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    Declan McCullagh

    CNET

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    Julian Sanchez

    Cato Institute

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    Paul Rosenzweig

    Red Branch Consulting

    NewsNationalPolitics
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