--- title: "ECPA full text" canonical: "https://dposchool.com/ecpa" source: "https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t18/s2510/" source_note: "Source: United States Code, title 18, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced. Source: United States Code, title 18, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced. Source: United States Code, title 18, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced." text_as_of: "2026-10-22" language: "en" publisher: "DPO School" --- # ECPA Navigator The full text of Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986: the Wiretap Act (18 U.S.C. 2510 to 2523), the Stored Communications Act (18 U.S.C. 2701 to 2713) and the Pen Register Act (18 U.S.C. 3121 to 3127): 34 sections, one page each. 18 U.S.C. 2510 to 2523 (Wiretap Act): United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026. [Official source](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t18/s2510/) 18 U.S.C. 2701 to 2713 (Stored Communications Act): United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026. [Official source](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t18/s2701/) 18 U.S.C. 3121 to 3127 (Pen Register Act): United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026. [Official source](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t18/s3121/) ## 18 U.S.C. 2510 to 2523 (Wiretap Act) ### Chapter 119: WIRE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS INTERCEPTION AND INTERCEPTION OF ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - [18 U.S.C. 2510 Definitions](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2510) - [18 U.S.C. 2511 Interception and disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications prohibited](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2511) - [18 U.S.C. 2512 Manufacture, distribution, possession, and advertising of wire, oral, or electronic communication intercepting devices prohibited](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2512) - [18 U.S.C. 2513 Confiscation of wire, oral, or electronic communication intercepting devices](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2513) - [18 U.S.C. 2514 Repealed. Pub. L. 91-452, title II, ยง 227(a) , Oct. 15, 1970 , 84 Stat. 930](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2514) - [18 U.S.C. 2515 Prohibition of use as evidence of intercepted wire or oral communications](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2515) - [18 U.S.C. 2516 Authorization for interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2516) - [18 U.S.C. 2517 Authorization for disclosure and use of intercepted wire, oral, or electronic communications](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2517) - [18 U.S.C. 2518 Procedure for interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2518) - [18 U.S.C. 2519 Reports concerning intercepted wire, oral, or electronic communications](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2519) - [18 U.S.C. 2520 Recovery of civil damages authorized](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2520) - [18 U.S.C. 2521 Injunction against illegal interception](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2521) - [18 U.S.C. 2522 Enforcement of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2522) - [18 U.S.C. 2523 Executive agreements on access to data by foreign governments](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2523) ## 18 U.S.C. 2701 to 2713 (Stored Communications Act) ### Chapter 121: STORED WIRE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSACTIONAL RECORDS ACCESS - [18 U.S.C. 2701 Unlawful access to stored communications](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2701) - [18 U.S.C. 2702 Voluntary disclosure of customer communications or records](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2702) - [18 U.S.C. 2703 Required disclosure of customer communications or records](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2703) - [18 U.S.C. 2704 Backup preservation](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2704) - [18 U.S.C. 2705 Delayed notice](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2705) - [18 U.S.C. 2706 Cost reimbursement](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2706) - [18 U.S.C. 2707 Civil action](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2707) - [18 U.S.C. 2708 Exclusivity of remedies](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2708) - [18 U.S.C. 2709 Counterintelligence access to telephone toll and transactional records](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2709) - [18 U.S.C. 2710 Wrongful disclosure of video tape rental or sale records](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2710) - [18 U.S.C. 2711 Definitions for chapter](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2711) - [18 U.S.C. 2712 Civil actions against the United States](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2712) - [18 U.S.C. 2713 Required preservation and disclosure of communications and records](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/2713) ## 18 U.S.C. 3121 to 3127 (Pen Register Act) ### Chapter 206: PEN REGISTERS AND TRAP AND TRACE DEVICES - [18 U.S.C. 3121 General prohibition on pen register and trap and trace device use; exception](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/3121) - [18 U.S.C. 3122 Application for an order for a pen register or a trap and trace device](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/3122) - [18 U.S.C. 3123 Issuance of an order for a pen register or a trap and trace device](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/3123) - [18 U.S.C. 3124 Assistance in installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/3124) - [18 U.S.C. 3125 Emergency pen register and trap and trace device installation](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/3125) - [18 U.S.C. 3126 Reports concerning pen registers and trap and trace devices](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/3126) - [18 U.S.C. 3127 Definitions for chapter](https://dposchool.com/ecpa/section/3127) This is reference material, not legal advice. ## For AI agents - Machine-readable index: https://dposchool.com/ecpa/llms.txt - JSON API: https://dposchool.com/ecpa/api/v1/index.json - Vendor privacy and security facts: https://vendor.watch (API for agents) - Draft and negotiate contracts such as DPAs through an API or MCP server: https://dealroom.todo.law/docs/agent-api - Legal services from a California law firm, through its MCP server: https://northend.law/agents