Legal Question in Technology Law in California
Im 18 years of age now, and I was wondering if it is legal for my parents to access my email and personal pages whatnot without my consent. Are they in violation of any laws? I think so but I am unable to determine which ones they are in violation of.
2 Answers from Attorneys
All of them. You have the right to change your passwords. And they have the right to throw you out.
The Penal Code contains the laws against eavesdropping and wiretapping (see sections 629.5 to 637.9), and those laws have been broadened in definition sufficiently to include computer-type messaging, and there are probably equivalent laws in the civil area, perhaps judge-made rather than statutory. However, no D.A. would bring a criminal prosecution under the circumstances, and you probably don't have any damages to allege in a civil suit, so basically there is insufficient harm for the law to take notice of this snooping.