Lyn Mary Veronica Russell's blog: "A Slice of Life"

 Recently I came across an article in  a Michigan online Newspaper about a man being charged for reading his soon to be ex-wife's emails.After his wife filed for divorce, the man. who is extremely talented with computer technology, hacked into her email account via  her laptop computer and accessed her emails.He explained that he thought that she was having an affair .He now faces up to five years in jail, if convicted. As there is no clear law regarding emails, the prosecutors are relying on a Michigan law used to prosecute identity theft crimes or trade secrets.It reads:

 " A person shall not intentionally and without authorization or by exceeding valid authorization do any of the following: Access or cause access to be made to a computer program, computer, computer system or computer network to acquire, alter, damage delete or destroy property or otherwise use the service of a computer program, computer, computer system or computer network."

Hmm...

This could set precedent for many other cases , if this man is convicted.

If he opened up any paper mail that was addressed to her, , that would be considered a Federal offence... in today's high tech social networking society, should paperless mail not be considered the same as paper mail?

Either way, it is an invasion of privacy. Hacking into someone's private account seems even more extreme to me than opening up a paper envelope.

Some may say that it was his wife... it was his right;but really... he doesn't own her. She has her own individual rights, just as much as the next person. If It were a complete stranger hacking into someone's computer , it would definitely be an invasion of privacy, wouldn't it?

The account didn't have his name attached to it, it was not his computer, she had it password protected. If she wanted to give him access, she would have given it to him.

I think this is going to open up a lot of ethical issues regarding checking  cell phones for texts  (this is also a form of mail,after all) when they are not yours , as well as parents checking their kids' facebook accounts, cell phones and emails.... is it ok to check up on a minor that is under your care? Is it ok to check on a spouse or significant other via their emails or cell phone? Dicey questions indeed.

The children issue is perhaps a grey area for me. on one hand , you must protect them, on the other hand , it IS an invasion of privacy.( I supervise what my son is looking at and talking to, of course, but do I look at his emails? no. I believe that my son has a right to that privacy and I hope that I have raised him such a way that he can make informed choices and come to me  if their are issues.)

Any other circumstances, I  strongly believe is an invasion of privacy. I don't care if you are married , single, engaged,  if the email account, cell phone or paper letter is not addressed to you.... hands off.. Simple... We don't own each other...