Legal Question in Technology Law in Massachusetts
Federal Law on email rights
All my question relates to is if email has the same status as land US mail in the United States.
Is email covered by same law that covers land mail in the case that it is a Federal crime to interfer with the US mail, would this also apply to electronic mail via the internet.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Federal Law on email rights
No. The Federal statutes which deal with interference with the mail apply only to items delivered by the United States Postal Service. Other means of delivery -- such as FedEx, United Parcel Service (UPS), courier, fax or email -- are not covered by these statutes.
Having said that, I note that there may be a variety of other state and Federal laws that would be enforceable against someone who knowingly interferes with email transmissions. Just because the particular laws dealing with the Postal Service don't apply here doesn't mean that such interference is legal.
Re: Federal Law on email rights
E-mail is not U.S. mail under the law.
There are a number of federal laws protecting transmissions of e-mail, though, and, depending upon the purpose of the interference (e.g., to defraud someone!?), there are a number of state laws and federal laws that apply.
Why are you asking?
(Reply to [email protected], privately.)
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