U.S. Privacy Laws
A Timeline of Statutes Protecting the Privacy Rights of Citizens
1791 — The Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, is ratified. The Third Amendment protects the privacy of the home, the Fourth Amendment prevents the government from conducting “unreasonable searches and seizures,” and the Fifth Amendment states that the government cannot compel individuals to divulge self-incriminating information. 1825 — Congress passes a law protecting the privacy of the mail. It states: Whoever takes any letter, postal card, or package out of any post o ce or any authorized depository for mail matter, or from any letter or mail carrier … before it has been delivered…
