Snooping On Your Spouse

   By drodriguez  Jan 03, 2011
42

It’s not unusual to hear that a friend or acquaintance learned something hurtful or surprising about their spouse after snooping in their email.  Some may think it wrong or a violation of privacy, but have you ever considered that it may actually be a crime?  One man, Leon Walker of Michigan, found this out the hard way after logging into his then wife’s, Clara Walker’s, Gmail account.  

A recent report from ABC News discusses the events that have taken place since Leon Walker accessed his wife’s personal emails.  According to Walker, he suspected that his wife was having an affair and wanted to verify it by checking her email.  He says that he was able to obtain her password by looking in a book that she kept near the computer.  He has also stated that he saw nothing wrong with the actions he took to find out if his wife was indeed cheating.  

Walker was later charged with felony misuse of a computer and if he is convicted could spend up to 5 years in prison.  Though Walker, a computer technician, insists he simply checked her email by using her password, prosecutors have argued that he “illegally hacked” into her computer after she had filed for divorce.  Whatever the case, federal privacy laws are clear in stating that password protected email accounts are private, even when using a shared computer.  The only way around this is if one of the parties gives the other permission and allows access.

Walker’s trial is set to begin next month and could set a precedence, changing the way we view privacy between married couples.  Privacy lawyer, Perry Aftab, talks about how reading a letter addressed to your spouse or checking emails without permission can lead you into some pretty hot water.  Aftab says, “If you give them permission, you can do anything you want.  But if you don’t, it might be a crime.”

What do you think of the privacy laws that call checking a spouse’s email a crime?

Do you think Leon Walker should be convicted for snooping on his wife?

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Steelersfan by Steelersfan | Forest, VA
Jan 07, 2011

Well said c931trish!

millaa by millaa | NORTH CHICAGO, IL
Jan 07, 2011

I think it's wrong that he gets time. She broke her vows, so if anything she should be punished too. I mean goodness they've added insult to injury. I'm sure this man is hurt by the fact that he busted his wife cheating on him, and to add jail time to his pain? Absurd!

mwoody3 by mwoody3 | Swartz Creek, MI
Jan 07, 2011

I''m personally looking at this a whole different way!! My husband is a computer repair tech and he frequently gets costumers wanting him to 'search' their computer for suspecious activity. He knows how to do all sorts of things, ie. Check the last places you've been to online and screen shots. I wonder if my hubby could get in trouble for being paid to snoop????!??!?!

cocoasmommy by cocoasmommy | Philadelphia, PA
Jan 06, 2011

AMEN MamaFred! Having been married for 30 years, how do you live under the same roof and be so separate?!? I believe when it's to the point there is this much mistrust between a couple, it's time to come together and talk about the "real" issue. What will be accomplished by sending your child's father to jail for five years? I mean Seriously??? Something is very wrong with this picture...

Von411 by Von411 | El paso, TX
Jan 06, 2011

I saw part of her interview and it not all the facts are in. I think he was doing things he should not have been doing. She also stated their her passwords were not on the book near the computer as he stated. He did something he should not have been doing. Especially since he said it was over and she should go on with her life. He went on to tell her first husband about things and is in a custidy battle now with her first husband as well as with this one. So many things happened by what he did..

MamaFred by MamaFred | Ridgeland, SC
Jan 06, 2011

Are you kidding me? Whatever happened to once you get married, you act as ONE unit, not two seperate entities cohabitating under the same roof. It's a shame society has gone this far away from common sense. Very sad commentary on our state of affairs, indeed...no pun intended : ) A drunk driver who kills someone doesnt get five years? What's wrong with this?

Kaykay0711 by Kaykay0711 | SCHENECTADY, NY
Jan 06, 2011

I believe two wrongs don't make a right. She was wrong to have the affair in the first place but he was wrong to snoop. That said, as her crime will not be punished through the legal system, I am not sure I understand under the contract of marriage why his will be. I think both situations need to be addressed but not based on privacy, based on the contract of marriage.

josmommy by josmommy | toledo, OH
Jan 06, 2011

oops I didnt read they were in the middle of a divorce,that could change things.

josmommy by josmommy | toledo, OH
Jan 06, 2011

seriously?This is the man she chose to spend the rest of her life with,while I dont think he was justified She shouldnt be hiding anything that big from him,unless she was having a affair in whitch case he had every right to know.5 years is stupid,maybe a week and community service.What is our world coming to when we put our spouse in jail coz he looked at our email.

tngal39 by tngal39 | Bristol, TN
Jan 06, 2011

Wow, that is pretty harsh,I think that if you want to snoop in your wife's or husbands email account then your marriage isn't in a good relationship but if your just divorcing then I would consider it as a felony charge but getting 5 years they shouldn't make him goto prison for that maybe 2 or 3 but not 5 yrs. and also why would you want to snoop in each others emails if you got something to hide then tell the person your with be honest and not secretive.

bean42069 by bean42069 | Goldsboro, NC
Jan 06, 2011

Wow, that's pretty harsh! If she kept a book with her passwords in it by the computer like he said, well, then......I don't blame him for using it, especially if she had given him some reason to be suspicious she was cheating. If she didn't have anyting to hide, why would she care?????

dmp515 by dmp515 | LANCASTER, PA
Jan 05, 2011

I do not believe this guy should face charges since they are a married couple and he wasn't "hacking" into anything..... HOWEVER I do not agree with anyone reading anothers email unless they were specifically told they can view the email. Reading anothers email is just asking for trouble....which they already had.....this is a personal issue and should be resolved as such!.

mardel by mardel | SCHAUMBURG, IL
Jan 05, 2011

Unbelievable! When a couple are married there should be trust and honesty. I find what Walker did was just an act of desperation in his part. Yes he was snooping but I feel that if your partner is not being honest or their attitude has changed than there might be something they are hiding. He should have asked her and ask to see her email first. If she refused than it's his right to be informed and to serve jail sentence for that is ridiculous! Save the jail space for the rapist and murderers that get away with their crimes with only probation.

maneka by maneka | Newton, NC
Jan 05, 2011

Wow! really...five years? a little harsh.

christiecrumble by christiecrumble | Carrollton, TX
Jan 05, 2011

Its amazing what our "justice system" labels as, and seeks "punishment" for. My ex stole my brothers identity and used it to commit fraud on a bank, BUT since it was his first offense (of which he was caught AND prosecuted for) he got away w/ a slap on the wrist and supervision. Now he works at Bank of America in their mortgage department...UNBELIEVABLE! I say slap the hubby on the wrist ..wasn't it his 'first offense'?