JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- You know the saying 'Big Brother is watching?' He may soon be reading too.
A new bill working its way through Congress could give the government unwarranted access to your email.
"I have to admit I'm not very careful about what I put in my emails," said Rod Sullivan.
He emails constantly for business and pleasure. And he knows the legal ins and outs. He is a professor at the Florida Coastal School of Law.
He says the Senate proposal to grant more than 22 government agencies unrestricted access crosses the line.
"People expect when they send out an email over the Ethernet that the only people that are going to read it are the ones they directed it to, and the idea that law enforcement agencies can snatch it from your internet service provider and read it is contrary to what most people think is right," Sullivan said.
This bill was originally designed to heighten email privacy. But the legislation was dramatically changed in response to law enforcement concerns. It's something Florida Senator Bill Nelson isn't on board with either.
"You've got to be able to go after people's emails if there is a terrorist plot afoot but the protection of American citizens' privacy is that you can't go and invade their emails unless you get a judge's order," Nelson said.
Sullivan says if it passes, he will need to start doing some serious proof-reading, even though he isn't doing anything wrong.
"I'm not doing anything illegal at all, but by the same token, anyone can look at your emails and gather into that you wouldn't want them to have normally."
The bill would also allow the same access to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.
The bill was reshaped by the democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy. It is set to be voted on next week.
