The IRS claims that its agents do not need warrants to read private electronic communications, including email and text messages. The ACLU uncovered the policy yesterday following a Freedom of Information Act request.
Writes The Hill: “In a 2009 handbook, the IRS said the Fourth Amendment does not protect emails because Internet users “do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in such communications.” A 2010 presentation by the IRS Office of General Counsel reiterated the policy.”
In a March 2011 update to its employee manual, the IRS reiterated this view.