Legal Question in Technology Law in Florida
e-mail spying
A husband suspects his wife is seeing another man. The husband somehow gets the password to his wife�s e-mail account which is owned by the corporation she works for. He goes in to her e-mails and prints out those he finds provocative and turns them over to his new divorce attorney. Is this legal and can these e-mails be used against her if they are obtained without a subpoena?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: e-mail spying
The interception or unauthorized access to electronic communications (including email) is a cirme under 18 US Code sections 2511 and 2701. Depending on the circumstances, it can be punishable by a fine or up to 10 years in prison. Potentially serious federal crimes and very stupid. Additionally, the use of such intercepted electronic comminications knowing that they were obtained without authorization can also be a criminal act under the above sections. I have not checked recently but I believe that Florida has state statutes that makes some of those actions criminal as well.