Yes, in previous decades the government could access electronic communications under the third party doctrine[1] that says the fourth amendment only applied to &quot;papers&quot; held by the individual &#x2F; in their home, not to communications voluntarily placed in the hands of a third party. On the other hand, far less of people&#x27;s lives was conducted online. I expect that&#x27;s why no real objections were raised.<p>Because much intimate communication has moved from in-person&#x2F;on-telephone&#x2F;other-instantaneous communications to asynchronous platforms hosted by third parties, in effect much that was &quot;private&quot; is now effectively &quot;public&quot;. What once required a warrant now does not. Many things previously subject to protections against unreasonable searches are no longer so protected.<p>[1]: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.abajournal.com&#x2F;magazine&#x2F;article&#x2F;the_data_question_should_the_third-party_records_doctrine_be_revisited&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.abajournal.com&#x2F;magazine&#x2F;article&#x2F;the_data_question...</a>