"The government may not compel a commercial ISP to turn over the contents of a subscriber's e-mails without first obtaining a warrant based on probable cause."

On December 14, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held, in United States of America v. Steven Warshak (6th Cir. December 14, 2010), that the" government may not compel a commercial ISP to turn over the contents of a subscriber's emails without first obtaining a warrant based on probable cause."  Slip op., at 23.  The Court actually found that the e-mail of today is entitled to the same protection as the postal mail of days long past.  Score one for the protection of constitutional rights.  Don't get the wrong idea though; Steven Warshak and the other defendants are not good citizens.  Lot's of mail and wire fraud convictions were affirmed.