[WEB4LIB] RE: FBI to monitor libraries

[Daniel Messer]

"Cantona, Eric" <ECantona at plcmc.org> said:

> I don't know of a single case in which the Supreme Court (or lower) has
> ruled that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in the use of a
> public computer.
> 
> Anyone else?
> EC

I have no knowledge of any such case. But then again, it's more than obvious to me that the justice system still thinks computers are magical boxes and the Internet is even more inexplicable. Like Arthur C. Clarke has said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

However, I would have to agree with a lack of privacy on public machines. I could see many judges ruling that public machines could legally have lower privacy standards than private machines. This may sound stupid, but remember, these are the same judges that find defendents not guilty for using cameras to look up women's skirts because, after all, the woman is in a public place and thus supposedly gives up some of her privacy. (True story.)

That aside, what of the library's own machines running things like OPAC and the automation system? While these machines are funded with public tax dollars, are they still public machines? Or are they different and should someone have a reasonable expectation of privacy on such machines?

Finally, what exactly constitutes a public computer and the expectation of privacy one can have while using it? Okay, a public internet terminal may not have privacy considerations, but where does one draw the line? I can make a pretty good case that an ATM is a public computer which is no more task specific than an Internet kiosk. Should one have a reasonable expectation of privacy at an ATM? Then why not a library net station?

Just some thoughts for a Friday morning.

Dan 

-- 
Mondai wa
The subject in question...
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Daniel Messer
Assistant Circulation Manager
Yakima Valley Regional Library
dmesser at yvrl.org
509-452-8541 ext 761
102 N 3rd St  Yakima, WA  98901
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