I spy with my little Eye-pad

You share your bathroom, your bed and your fridge. But does that mean your partner has the right to a share in your private correspondence? Are they entitled to snoop through your phone, your iPad, your computer or even your mail?

 

In a recent survey, nearly a quarter of married couples have admitted to marital espionage by snooping on each other’s phones.   Whilst you may think you have good reason to go looking, what you may not realise is that by doing so you are technically engaging in criminal activity.   Unless they have given you their express consent, any communication addressed to them, or sent directly to them, belongs to them, and you do not have the automatic right to see it.

 

It gets worse.  There have been reports of cases recently where people have been spying on their exs, by doing things like putting hidden cameras or recording devices in the children’s toys just before a visit, or using Skype calls to children during their visit with the other parent, to gather evidence on the ex’s behaviour.

 

It is never advisable to invade someone’s privacy in this way. If you do not have someone’s consent to viewing their text messages, emails, Facebook account etc, then you are acting illegally and must stop.

 

Of course, there is a bigger fundamental issue here – if you are spying on someone, or you are being spied on, then clearly something is going wrong.  You are unlikely to be doing it to someone unless you genuinely believe there is a problem, and if they are doing it to you, what does that say about their view of you.

 

If you find that your husband, wife, significant other or ex is invading your privacy or you are tempted to do it to someone who is or was close to you, then we should talk.  Drop me a line at Stephanie@kleymansolicitors.com.  I’ll make sure that only I read the email, and that we meet somewhere for a private conversation.

 

Kleyman & Co Solicitors.  The full service law firm.  We know the benefits of keeping a secret!