Georgia Computer Law and Divorce
The computer laws, phone recording and divorce are a combination of the Federal Privacy Act and Georgia state computer law. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) is a federal law that prohibit certain types of electronic eavesdropping. Enacted in 1986 the ECPA created penalties for any person who intentionally
1) intercepts, uses or discloses any wire or oral communication by using any electronic, mechanical, or other device, or
2) without authority accesses a wire or electronic communication while in storage.
A distinction is made between the “interception” of electronic communications and mere access to communications that are in “storage.” The legislative intent is to provide stiffer penalties for “interception” than for accessing communications in “storage.”
What types of communications are covered?
The law applies to traditional telephone wiretaps, cell phone interceptions, electronic messages, voicemail systems, pagers, chat logs, web-streaming video, voice over IP, and recording or videotaping private face-to-face conversations.
What if my spouse gives me access to their email account?
If there is consent then the ECPA may not apply. The ECPA only prohibits “unauthorized” use, disclosure, or interception. If your spouse has routinely given you their email account passwords and allowed you to use them, they have authorized you to find what you will. The courts will decide this issue of consent on a case-by-case basis, and it is not necessary for consent to be explicit. Implied consent can be found when the surrounding circumstances are taken into account. It is advisable for you to consult a Georgia divorce attorney before taking any action that might be considered in violation of the ECPA.
What telephone calls can I record?
Under the Georgia statute, it is permissible to record a phone conversation if one of the parties to the communication is aware of and has consented to its being recorded. This means that you can record your own telephone calls. On the other hand, it is illegal to record telephone calls between your spouse and a third party, if neither party knows that the conversation is being recorded. It is important to be aware that some states require that both parties to a telephone call be aware of and consent to its being recorded. If you are recording a telephone call, and one of the callers is out-of-state, you could be violating the law of that state.
Can I read my spouse’s email messages?
This question depends on several factors. First, how did you obtain the information? If it was unintentional, you may use it any way you please. The ECPA only prohibits the intentional interception or unauthorized access to electronic communications. Therefore, if a message is sent to you in error, you may use the contents in any manner that you see fit. However, a password is required to access most email programs. If you have improperly obtained your spouse’s password, it would be illegal to access the messages. Should your acquire electronic communications that are stored, rather than intercepting communications as they unfold, you may use the information you obtain. Most importantly, it may be used as evidence in your divorce. In addition, you may disclose it to others. However, you should be aware that by doing so, you may be exposing yourself to a lawsuit or criminal charges. Whether your individual situation could expose you to the penalties of the ECPA is a fact-specific inquiry. Therefore, it is advisable to obtain the advice of a Georgia attorney before taking any action.
What are the penalties for violating the ECPA?
There are both civil and criminal penalties for a violation of the ECPA. It can be very financially damaging if you are found in violation of this law. For example, a court can award damages to the victim of such eavesdropping. The damages are calculated in a way that each day of continuation of the violation gives rise to a higher amount of damages. In addition, the court can force you to pay the attorneys’ fees of the other party, which could be higher than the amount of damages. A court may also impose additional, punitive damages if the violation is especially malicious. Finally, a court may impose a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years for a violation of the ECPA. In addition to the federal law, there are also Georgia state laws affecting your ability to engage in electronic eavesdropping. As if the foregoing penalties are not enough deterrent, you could also be sued under Georgia common law for an “invasion of privacy.” This could expose you to monetary damages.
How can I know what is permissible and what is not?
The law of privacy in electronic communications is notorious for its lack of clarity. This is evidenced by the lack of a uniform interpretation of this law by the various federal courts. However, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind when faced with the question of whether you are committing a violation of the ECPA. The first and most basic principle underlying this law is the concept of a “justifiable expectation of privacy.” A justifiable expectation of privacy must accompany the communication in order for a violation of the ECPA to occur. In most cases, it is not hard to imagine which communications involve an expectation of privacy exists. For example, a reasonable person is justified in expecting their telephone calls to be private. However, a reasonable person would not consider a message placed on a bulletin board to be private. This principle can be extended to each type of electronic communication. Most people would consider an email message to be private. The software for accessing such messages requires a password, which is a good indication of the expectation of privacy. However, a joint email account where spouses share the service and are both aware of the password, would probably not be deemed to be private. Another gray area in applying this law concerns chat rooms. Many chat rooms are restricted to those who “register” for the service. However, the fact that access is limited to those who register does not necessarily mean that the discussions are justifiably expected to be private. On the other hand, some chat rooms are private and only available to those with a password.
Can I record a telephone conversation between my ex and our child?
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (which is not the Circuit Court of Appeals governing Georgia) has found that a parent may consent for a child’s conversation to be recorded. The Court required that the parent consenting for the child present a good faith, objectively reasonable basis for believing such action was necessary for the welfare of the child. However, the taping of such a conversation could be a violation of the ECPA. It is clearly an illegal interception of a communication using a device, which would put it squarely within the prohibitions of the ECPA. Taping a child’s telephone conversation with the other parent would also violate Georgia state law. However, it is not illegal to use another phone in your home, in the ordinary course of business, to listen in on the conversation. This is referred to as the “extension line” exception to the ECPA. It is based on the principle that it is not illegal to monitor a conversation that one could otherwise hear legally. There is a conflict of opinion in the federal courts on whether you can record such a conversation. To do so is at your own risk of being found in violation of the ECPA and Georgia state law.
I taped my spouse’s telephone conversation illegally, what can I do with the information I obtained?
This is where the distinction between “interception” and “accessing a stored electronic communication” becomes critical. If you placed a wiretap on a telephone, or hired a computer professional to break into your spouse’s computer to monitor his chat room discussions, this is obviously an “interception.” Some courts have defined interception to mean acquiring communications as they are transmitted. If you have intercepted a message, you may not use it for any purpose. You may not tell anyone else the contents of it, even by paraphrasing. You may not use it in evidence in your divorce. Each instance of disclosing the information to another person can theoretically be considered a separate cause of action for damages or criminal culpability. One federal court has found that even those who listen to the illegally recorded conversations can be found liable for violating the statute.
How can I protect myself from unwanted intrusions into my own electronic privacy?
The Internet is inherently susceptible to surveillance by private individuals who are willing to put forth the expense and effort to do so. However, it is possible to place hurdles in the way of individuals without the technical knowledge to hack into your computer. Such steps include installation of firewall software, password protection, and encryption software. Firewalls help prevent unwanted access and unsolicited scans coming form the Internet. Password protection is available on all email programs. Encryption software is an effective method of sending and storing electronic messages in a format that is illegible to someone without “decrypting” software. Should you discover that you have been the victim of an ECPA violation, you have legal recourse. You may file a lawsuit for injunctive relief (i.e. to stop the intrusion), actual damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. You are required to file such a lawsuit within two years after the date upon which you had a reasonable opportunity to discover the violation of the ECPA. The other legal actions available to you are criminal charges and a civil lawsuit for invasion of privacy under Georgia computer law.
Georgia Case Law Recording Telephone Conversations
OCGA § 16-11-62 prohibits the interception or recording of a telephone call by any person who is not a party to the conversation. This prohibition includes interceptions by family members. Kelley v. State, 233 Ga.App. 244, 248-249(2), 503 S.E.2d 881 (1998). "OCGA § 16-11-62 was intended to protect all persons from an invasion of privacy. Ransom v. Ransom, 253 Ga. 656, 324 S.E.2d 437 (1985).
However, OCGA § 16-11-66 provides two specific exceptions which allow such interception. [2] OCGA § 16-11-66(a) reads as follows: Nothing in Code Section 16-11-62 shall prohibit a person from intercepting a wire, oral, or electronic communication where such person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to such interception. Further, OCGA § 16-11-66(b) provides that the telephonic conversations of a child under 18 years of age may be recorded and divulged if, upon written application by a private citizen, law enforcement agency, or prosecutor's office, a judge of a superior court and the child consent to such taping.
Title III was enacted in 1968 to protect the privacy of wire and oral communications and to regulate the conditions under which interceptions would be allowed. Pub.L. 90-351, Title III, § 801, p. 253, 82 Stat. 211 (1968); U.S. Code Cong. & Admin. News, 90th Cong., pp. 2112, 2153 (1968). Presently, Title III prohibits the interception of wire, oral or electronic communications without (a) a court order or (b) the prior consent of a party to the conversation. 18 U.S. C. 2511(1), (2)(a)(ii), (d).
OCGA § 16-11-62 et seq. delineates greater state statutory restrictions on interceptions and, therefore, provides greater protection to individual privacy rights than Title III. See Dobbins v. State, 262 Ga. 161, 162-163(2)(a), 415 S.E.2d 168 (1992) ("Dobbins "); see also Tapley v. Collins, 41 FSupp2d 1366, 1369 (S.D.Ga.1999) ("Georgia's telephone privacy statutes arguably provide more privacy protections than their federal counterparts."); Granese v. State, 232 Ga. 193, 196, 206 S.E.2d 26 (1974) (holding that Georgia's interception statute supplements the Federal statute).
This may be considered AN ADVERTISEMENT or Advertising Material under the Rules of Professional Conduct governing Georgia lawyers. Under no circumstance will Divorce In Georgia be held liable for any loss or damage caused by a visitor's reliance on information obtained through this web site or any other communication from us. It is the responsibility of each individual visitor to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice or other content. This site is intended to provide you only with general information. However, there is no guarantee that this information is comprehensive or accurate. Divorce In Georgia does NOT provide LEGAL, financial, or tax advice. Please consult a professional in these areas. Only an attorney licensed in your state can provide you with legal advice. The content of any third party site which visit via a link from this site is solely the responsibility of the provider of that web site.
Advertising
FREE UNCONTESTED DIVORCE
Must be a member for three months
Get Access to a Team of Attorneys for any Legal Issue
for only $24.95/Month
Family Plan Covers You, Your Spouse and Minor Children
See Plan Details
Advertising