Poster
07-01-2004, 02:41 PM
A federal appeals court ruled that companies that provide email sevices are allowed to read, store, and use any information inclosed in an email message without notification to the user. The case arose from the now defucnt Interloc Inc, who read emails to customers sent from rival Amazon.com in order to intercept and ''develop a list of books, learn about competitors and attain a commercial advantage.'' However, the federal appeals court upheld a lower court's decision not to prosecute Interloc vice president, Branford C. Councilman for violating the U.S. Wiretap Act.
Councilman argued that no violation of the Wiretap Act had occurred because the e-mails were copied while in ''electronic storage'' - in the process of being routed through servers to recipients.
''It puts all of our electronic communications in jeopardy - voice mail, e-mail, you name it,'' said Jerry Berman, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology. ''I think it violates the letter and spirit of the statute.''
For more information see: http://business.bostonherald.com/technologyNews/view.bg?articleid=33979
Councilman argued that no violation of the Wiretap Act had occurred because the e-mails were copied while in ''electronic storage'' - in the process of being routed through servers to recipients.
''It puts all of our electronic communications in jeopardy - voice mail, e-mail, you name it,'' said Jerry Berman, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology. ''I think it violates the letter and spirit of the statute.''
For more information see: http://business.bostonherald.com/technologyNews/view.bg?articleid=33979