Stealing Glances: Electronic Communications Privacy and the Necessity for New Legislation in the Digital Age

Electronic communication technology has seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of individuals’ daily lives. Technology’s rapid evolution and continuous advancement has made it possible for more people to enjoy access to devices that facilitate electronic communications. Technology’s progression, however, is starkly contrasted against the law’s inability to keep pace. Garcia v. City of Laredo highlights the gap in protection that certain electronic communication technologies suffer under the Stored Communications Act. Although the Act was envisioned by Congress to provide greater protection for future forms of communication, courts’ narrow interpretations of the privacy protections and the lack of any major revisions have resulted in the need for new legislation to better serve Congress’s original purpose.