Legal Question in Technology Law in Arizona

Internet Laws- Reading others email

I need to know what the laws are regarding reading an individuals email. email address and password were written down and confiscated from individual because individual was a ward of the state, which then made information our property.


Asked on 3/11/00, 3:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Theresa Peeler Law Office of T. M. Peeler

Re: Internet Laws- Reading others email

Although the email address and password were written down, unless the owner of the information has given their permission for you to access their information, you could expose yourself to invasion of privacy charges. The internet has yet to develop a body of law commensurate with other areas of the law since it is so new. However, an analogy can be made that by accessing information meant for and sent to be read by another person, that you are violating their personal rights.

Of course, if the person is a minor and the person accessing the information is a parent or guardian, other than a civil servant, there could be a valid reason or necessity given for accessing the information.

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Answered on 3/23/00, 1:05 pm


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