The United States Supreme Court ruled June 17, 2010 that your employer may search your employer supplied computer or cell phone for text messages, even though the employee may pay some of the charges for non-work messages.

The Court held there was no expectation of privacy in private text messages sent on your company/employer supplied cell phone, even when the employee pays the costs of sending the text messages.

This case involved an undercover police officer who sent sexually graphic text messages unrelated to  his job. He paid the excess charges for the text messages. He was disciplined after his employer searched his phone.

The moral of this decision? If you have a company supplied computer or cell phone, your employer may searrch it without fear of running afoul of any constitutional protections.

Joe Kirwan -Watching out for your rights at Court Watch and Silverman Law Offices