Is it illegal to view someone's e-mail if they left it open on the screen?

Question

Just wondering. A friend left his e-mail open on a public terminal and I viewed it. I didn't hack into the account or anything, and it wasn't his personal computer, he didn't close the screen or log out of the comp he was on. Sources would be good if anyone has them.

Answer 1

I agree with other posters....that would fall under plain sight. Breaking into someone's e-mail is another story.

Answer 2

are you saying it was in like a cyber cafee? if so and he walked away it was bad judgment on his part while unethical and since your a good friend you should have told him if he wasn't there at least closed it and logged him off so no one else could find sensitive info he might not want others to know

Answer 3

I do not have a source but I do not think there is a law about that

he was in a public place on a public computer and he left it there he had no reason to expect privacy so it's his own fault...

Answer 4

I don't think it's illegal but it was an invasion of his privacy.

Answer 5

This is NOT an invasion of privacy. Public location, public computer. The question comes in at how much you read. Although someone may consider this nosy, and you could have simply shut it down, I know of no law that would incriminate you.  

Answer 6

Yes.  Invasion of Privacy.

Answer 7

I don't know if its so much illegal but its definitely nosy...