Is it only the government? As search and seizure laws seem to allow anyone “not affiliated with the police” invade your privacy to find incriminating information.
What is the point of forcing police to get warrants when we aren’t even defended against our neighbors?
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From Whom Do I Have A Right To Privacy?
Posted on November 28, 2012.
Search and seizure laws apply to police. If your neighbor breaks into your house, he is trespassing and breaking and entering, which are totally separate things.
You have privacy still.
One of the amendments is the Fourth Amendment, which stops the police and other government agents from searching us or our property without “probable cause” to believe that we have committed a crime.
If your neighbor had a bomb, do you think you’d want the cops to search HIS house? They have to have reason; they can’t just get a search warrant when they want. Invasion of privacy is not a major right.
As “Who Aren’t You?” says, the Constitution only protects you (gives you the right to privacy) from government bodies.
On the other hand, an ordinary citizen would be considered trespassing (or, depending on what he/she did, breaking and entering, burglary, or similar) if that person entered your property without your consent and searched for (and perhaps removed) your property.
Neighbors have less rights than the police. The police, with a court order, can enter your property. A neighbor can’t get the court order.
Hope that helps.