Court rules against government employees in texting case
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/17/art.scotus.file8.gi.jpg caption ="The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling on privacy Thursday."]Washington (CNN) - Public employees who send personal messages on their state-issued communication devices do not enjoy a "reasonable expectation" of privacy, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
The justices unanimously concluded that state officials had the right to review the review the records of a California police officer who exchanged hundreds of personal messages - some of a "sexually explicit" nature - on his department text pager.
"Because the search was motivated by a legitimate work-related purpose, and because it was not excessive in scope, the search was reasonable," Justice Anthony Kennedy noted in the court's decision.
typical government empolyee...waste time and tax payers money and then cries about it. when caught or repermanded....
What kind of person would believe they have any right to privacy when using a hardware and network access provided by an employer? If you want privacy then go purchase your own device and network access.
Gesh people!
Well, DUH! What a moron this guy must be!
and I thought he was 'protecting and serving' the community
instead he was exchanging hundreds of personal messages – some of a "sexually explicit" nature – on his department text pager.
police offiers like this need to have their retirement removed and fired
this makes the other police officers look really bad
this is the only logical decision.
If corporate employees don't get privacy on company assets then why would goverment employees be entitled to it? Seems pretty obvious and a waste of the USSC time.
It's called "theft of services". The taxpayers pay for those devices and expect them to be used for the taxpayers' business.
If you want to sex-text – do it on your own time, and your own dime – buy your personal communication device!