Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

According to "Law 101" By: Jay M. Feinman, "The Fourth Amendment applies to searches and seizures conducted by any government official, not just a police officer. A public school principal who wants to search a student's locker or a Food and Drug Administration meat inspector who wants to inspect a packing plant has to abide by the Fourth Amendment, although the standards of what constitutes an unreasonable search are different in those contexts than with a police officer stopping someone on the street. Conversely, the constitutional safeguards only protect against actions by government officials. A private employer who wants to monitor employees' e-mail or a department store that installs security cameras in its dressing rooms is not subject to constitutional restrictions. In some cases, the common law right of privacy provides some protection."