What does the 4th Amendment primarily protect against?

The 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution primarily protects against illegal search and seizure. This amendment is crucial in safeguarding individuals' privacy rights, requiring law enforcement to have probable cause and, in most cases, a warrant to conduct searches or seize property. This protection ensures that citizens are free from arbitrary intrusions by the government into their private lives and possessions.

While the amendment also encompasses aspects of unlawful entry and unreasonable detention, its core purpose is focused on preventing law enforcement from obtaining evidence in ways that violate an individual's reasonable expectation of privacy. The 4th Amendment establishes a legal framework that requires law enforcement to operate within specific constitutional boundaries, thereby preserving individual freedoms and civil liberties. Additionally, the amendment extends to modern issues like wiretapping, but its foundational concern remains the illegality of searches and seizures conducted without proper justification.