Checking my sons iCloud account...illegal?

[ToastedPumpkin]

Howdy all, been a long time reader, but new to posting.
I can see that there is a wealth of knowledge on here, so i was hoping someone may be able to help.

Long story short, i'm going through a separation with my ex. We have a child together who is under 10 years old, and they have an old iPhone and an email account and iCloud account.

The email account i setup, but the ex created the Apple iCloud account.
Because they went away recently, i wanted to see the location of the child.

The iCloud account was setup with the same credentials as the email account. As a note, the credentials for any account associated to the child will always the same, so both the ex and I have access to them at all times (in hindsight, i should have gotten this in writing!!)

However, i've now been told be the ex that what i did was illegal, because it could have been deemed as snooping or not allowing them private time. By finding out the location of the child, i inadvertently knew their location too.

So given that i wanted to know the location of my child, access their account as the parent, am i now in the st? Or is what i'm being told utter tosh?

Thanks

[megaphone]

Yes, you're in big trouble, FBI is probably hunting you down .

[Zoon]

Who told you it was illegal?

[Impasse]

He's 10. You're his parent. You're doing nothing wrong, in fact checking up on a child's internet usage is good parenting.

His mother sounds mental though.

[Durzel]

Kids today, etc. I had a ZX Spectrum when I was 10.

[KevinCorvetteC6]

Impasse said:

He's 10. You're his parent. You're doing nothing wrong, in fact checking up on a child's internet usage is good parenting.

His mother sounds mental though.

This.

[esxste]

Illegal? If you have joint custody of the child, then you have legal responsibility for the child. Accessing their account is within your rights. If you don't have custody, then you've gained unauthorised access to a computer system.

You don't explain why you felt the need to check the location of the child while they were in the care of your ex.

I'd suggest your only worry is if your ex is accusing you of harassment, or if you are in a custody proceedings. It will be hard to justify your actions when the child is not in your care at the time.


Of course; IANAL.

[jkh112]

I thought iCloud accounts were not allowed for those under age 13. If so it would be the ex who was in the wrong by setting one up for a 10 year old.

[marshalla]

jkh112 said:

I thought iCloud accounts were not allowed for those under age 13. If so it would be the ex who was in the wrong by setting one up for a 10 year old.

http://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/icloud/en/terms.html

or as established by a parent or guardian under the Family Sharing feature...

[esxste]

jkh112 said:

I thought iCloud accounts were not allowed for those under age 13. If so it would be the ex who was in the wrong by setting one up for a 10 year old.

It's more that US law doesn't allow under 13's to enter into contracts.

[Beetnik]

Durzel said:

Kids today, etc. I had a ZX Spectrum when I was 10.

You were lucky. I had a bow and arrow.

[Roo]

And now the OP can't reply as this has been moved to S,P & L.

[Durzel]

^ lol nice one mods

Beetnik said:

You were lucky. I had a bow and arrow.

A bow AND an arrow? You don't know you're born.

[quoteunquote_sir_]

I'd be surprised if there's anything in the relevant legislation (Data Protection Act, Misue of Computers Act) that specifically covers what you did. It's not 'hacking', you knew the credentials and were involved in setting the accounts up. Arguably you *may* have some rights to access the accounts even. However, I would expect that the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 might be worth reading up on. You know what you did wasn't totally above board which is why you asked about it on here. From the family court's point of view (assuming things are acrimonious and that's where it's heading) you are a stalking ex partner, and they will almost certainly find in favour of your ex-partner unless there are other circumstances you haven't disclosed here.

Short answer: don't do it (again), or you will jeopardise future rights to your child. Be stronger now so that you don't pay for it in the future. Doubt very much that Plod is about to come knocking, but it might be mentioned in civil court.

[George111]

Impasse said:

He's 10. You're his parent. You're doing nothing wrong, in fact checking up on a child's internet usage is good parenting.

His mother sounds mental though.

This. You're supposed to check these things.

[jbudgie]

Durzel said:

^ lol nice one mods

Beetnik said:

You were lucky. I had a bow and arrow.

A bow AND an arrow? You don't know you're born.

Luxury!

Just a piece of string here.

[agtlaw]

I used to dream about a piece of string.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

jbudgie said:

Durzel said:

^ lol nice one mods

Beetnik said:

You were lucky. I had a bow and arrow.

A bow AND an arrow? You don't know you're born.

Luxury!

Just a piece of string here.

STRING when I were a lad we lived in a matchbox at side of the road and I had to play with the sewer rats.

[QBee]

No gadgets when I was a kid, but in my late 20s I audited the company that designed the ZX Spectrum and saw the phenomenal success of Sinclair and Acorn from close to the action.

[Jasandjules]

Parent of 10 year old child? Does not sound illegal to me.