ECPA

Electronic Communications Privacy Act

A United States federal law that extends restrictions on government wiretaps to include electronic data transmissions and protects wire oral and electronic communications while in transit and in storage. ECPA regulates surveillance activities restricts data interception protects stored communications establishes privacy safeguards defines law enforcement access and imposes penalties balancing privacy protection legitimate law enforcement needs national security considerations and evolving communication technologies through legal frameworks governing access to and interception of electronic communications.