How did the Katz v. United States (1967) ruling impact privacy rights?

The ruling in Katz v. United States significantly impacted privacy rights by establishing the concept of a "reasonable expectation of privacy." This case involved the use of electronic eavesdropping by federal agents to overhear Katz's phone conversations in a telephone booth, which he believed were private. The Supreme Court ruled that the government's actions in this instance constituted a violation of Katz's Fourth Amendment rights.

This ruling emphasized that individuals have a right to privacy when they have a subjective expectation of privacy that society recognizes as reasonable. The decision shifted the focus from the physical intrusion that was traditionally considered necessary for a search to a broader understanding of privacy that includes electronic communications and other private matters. This foundational principle has since guided many legal interpretations of privacy rights, reinforcing the idea that the expectation of privacy applies not just in physical spaces but also in various contexts where individuals seek confidentiality.