hacking a facebook account but did write anything mean or rude just snooped around?

[Summer]

so my friend hacked a Facebook account of a guy she is with, because she was suspicious about him talking to another girl. she didnt change anything on his fb all she did was read the messages. can she still get into trouble? I heard that its cyber bulling which I agree. she is scared to get in trouble like jail or something. but I told her that if she didn't change anything on the account and didn't write anything she shouldnt get into trouble with the police, but with her and the guy that's a different story im just asking legally wise.

[abraXus]

yes, it's still illegal to access someone else's account like that

[Bob]

It is not necessarily unlawful -- under either criminal or civil law -- for one person to access another's Facebook account. There are many situations when such access would be lawful (such as, for example, pursuant to a contract, via an implied license, by a parent accessing his or her minor child's account, via a court order). In her case, yes it is illegal.

[Matthew]

She didn't really hack his account (skill is needed for this). This guy was probably too dumb to think of a password that couldn't be guessed at by friends and family or he gave her his password. Regardless, her looking at his account was an invasion of privacy and shows lack of trust.

As for getting in trouble with the law...that isn't going to happen unless the guy finds out and is so ticked off that he wants to punish her. I doubt very much he will bother with that since even though what she did was technically illegal, it would take too much time and effort to press charges for this.

Now, tell your friend that if she doesn't trust her boyfriend, she needs to get rid of him. Relationships are built on trust and respect and she has neither for this guy. You and she will understand this more when you're older (I know you're very young because you actually think this can get you thrown into jail).