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I wouldn't count on the US Supreme Court to agree. For example they have ruled that it's OK for the govt to pick thru garbage you have left out on the curb. It

I wouldn't count on the US Supreme Court to agree. For example they have ruled that it's OK for the govt to pick thru garbage you have left out on the curb. It's probably a crime for some random person to rummage thru your garbage picking out bottles and cans to recycle, but it's OK for the FBI to carefully scrutinize every scrap of paper (or drugs etc) that you threw out. To me the garbage thing is a perfect "third party" situation, especially where I live (garbage collection is done by private parties). In locations where "the city" picks up your garbage one can perhaps argue that you're already giving it to a government agency.

deleted 12y ago
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zaroth 12y ago
The trick is to get the Supreme Court to set the legal precedent that throwing a document in the trash, and throwing a document in Dropbox are not the same thing.
spacemanmatt 12y ago
I was not surprised by the ruling on garbage at the curb. When you put something out into the public, it's fair game. I am ok with the court drawing the line where private property stops. But I don't see any reason that data should be subject to the same doctrine as trash.
- PhantomGremlin 12y ago
  > When you put something out into the public, it's fair game I disagree with this. In my situation my garbage pickup is done by a private company. What gives you or the FBI the right to rummage thru my garbage which I have left out for the private company to dispose of? Let's turn it around. Let's say that Amazon, a private company, delivers a package to me, but I'm not home. Do you (or the FBI) have a right to paw thru the contents just because it was left on my doorstep? What about if the US Postal Service (an agency of the federal government) leaves a package on my doorstep? Is it OK for the FBI to paw thru it? Edit: to add to this, what about if my garbage isn't out at the curb of the street, but instead is in my driveway or sidewalk, on my private property? Is keeping the garbage can a few feet from the street enough to keep my privacy rights intact? In many cities garbage pickup is done from the sidewalk, not from the street. And I know it's private property, based on how many "slip and slide" lawsuits get filed against private homeowners.

deleted 12y ago

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zaroth 12y ago

The trick is to get the Supreme Court to set the legal precedent that throwing a document in the trash, and throwing a document in Dropbox are not the same thing.

spacemanmatt 12y ago

I was not surprised by the ruling on garbage at the curb. When you put something out into the public, it's fair game. I am ok with the court drawing the line where private property stops. But I don't see any reason that data should be subject to the same doctrine as trash.

PhantomGremlin 12y ago
> When you put something out into the public, it's fair game I disagree with this. In my situation my garbage pickup is done by a private company. What gives you or the FBI the right to rummage thru my garbage which I have left out for the private company to dispose of? Let's turn it around. Let's say that Amazon, a private company, delivers a package to me, but I'm not home. Do you (or the FBI) have a right to paw thru the contents just because it was left on my doorstep? What about if the US Postal Service (an agency of the federal government) leaves a package on my doorstep? Is it OK for the FBI to paw thru it? Edit: to add to this, what about if my garbage isn't out at the curb of the street, but instead is in my driveway or sidewalk, on my private property? Is keeping the garbage can a few feet from the street enough to keep my privacy rights intact? In many cities garbage pickup is done from the sidewalk, not from the street. And I know it's private property, based on how many "slip and slide" lawsuits get filed against private homeowners.