In today's Houston Chronicle appeared a story ("Federal employee's computer searched after whistleblowing") which ties together cypherpunk concerns: whistleblowing, privacy, etc. I'll just type in a few paragraphs. Washington - The Resolution Trust Corp.'s top lawyer authorized a secret search of an employee's computer that turned up files detailing whistleblowing activities, a document shows. An internal agency memo shows RTC officials conducted the search after failing to persuade the agency's inspector general to do it, and says that the IG assured the RTC officials they wouldn't be investigated if questions were later raised. The IG's office disputes the claim. Officials at the savings and loan cleanup agency say RTC acting general counsel Richard T. Aboussie gave the go-ahead for the search because he suspected Bruce Pederson, a mid-level agency attorney in Denver, was doing personal business on government equipment. [1 paragraph deleted] Pederson has never disputed that the agency found personal matters in his files, arguing instead that the search was an invasion of privacy. Pederson said he believes agency officials were trying to punish him for being a whisleblower. "These evens are outrageous," he said. The search of Pederson's computer, first reported in May, occurred less that six months after he had criticized agency management practives in testimony before a Seante panel. He gained assurances at the time that he would not be retaliated against for airing his views. [2 paragraphs deleted] The federal wiretap law was expanded in 1986 to prohibit employers, including the government, from accessing employee work computer records. Under the law, the government is allowed to conduct clandestine searches if the employee is suspected of espionage or theft. Pederson was under no such suspicion. [I guess this is the ECPA?] [4 paragraphs deleted] According to electronic time stamps on each document, many of the letters and memos were generated on Pederson's government computer after normal working hours, the memo revealed. [Probably not cryptographic timestamps :-)] [3 paragraphs deleted to end of article] He should've used PGP!