{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-152.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-152.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-152.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-152.5.html"}],"law_id":55981,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55981,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.5","catch_line":"Computer invasion of privacy; penalties","history":"1984, c. 751; 1985, c. 398; 2001, c. 358; 2005, cc. 747, 761, 827, 837.","full_text":"A\n\nA person is guilty of the crime of computer invasion of privacy when he uses a computer or computer network and intentionally examines without authority any employment, salary, credit or any other financial or identifying information, as defined in clauses (iii) through (xiii) of subsection C of &#xA7; 18.2-186.3, relating to any other person. &#8220;Examination&#8221; under this section requires the offender to review the information relating to any other person after the time at which the offender knows or should know that he is without authority to view the information displayed.B\n\nThe crime of computer invasion of privacy shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.C\n\nAny person who violates this section after having been previously convicted of a violation of this section or any substantially similar laws of any other state or of the United States is guilty of a Class 6 felony.D\n\nAny person who violates this section and sells or distributes such information to another is guilty of a Class 6 felony.E\n\nAny person who violates this section and uses such information in the commission of another crime is guilty of a Class 6 felony.F\n\nThis section shall not apply to any person collecting information that is reasonably needed to (i) protect the security of a computer, computer service, or computer business, or to facilitate diagnostics or repair in connection with such computer, computer service, or computer business or (ii) determine whether the computer user is licensed or authorized to use specific computer software or a specific computer service.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":205101,"text":"A person is guilty of the crime of computer invasion of privacy when he uses a computer or computer network and intentionally examines without authority any employment, salary, credit or any other financial or identifying information, as defined in clauses (iii) through (xiii) of subsection C of &#xA7; 18.2-186.3, relating to any other person. &#8220;Examination&#8221; under this section requires the offender to review the information relating to any other person after the time at which the offender knows or should know that he is without authority to view the information displayed.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":205102,"text":"The crime of computer invasion of privacy shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":205103,"text":"Any person who violates this section after having been previously convicted of a violation of this section or any substantially similar laws of any other state or of the United States is guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":205104,"text":"Any person who violates this section and sells or distributes such information to another is guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":205105,"text":"Any person who violates this section and uses such information in the commission of another crime is guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":205106,"text":"This section shall not apply to any person collecting information that is reasonably needed to (i) protect the security of a computer, computer service, or computer business, or to facilitate diagnostics or repair in connection with such computer, computer service, or computer business or (ii) determine whether the computer user is licensed or authorized to use specific computer software or a specific computer service.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13888,"edition_id":1,"name":"Computer Crimes","identifier":"7.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13243,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:11","permalink":{"id":165759,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13888,"identifier":"7.1","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1","url":"\/18.2\/5\/7.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13243,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against Property","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":165299,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13243,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":61215,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.1","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/18.2-152.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.1","metadata":false},{"id":67728,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.11","catch_line":"Article not exclusive","url":"\/18.2-152.11\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.11","metadata":false},{"id":67574,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.12","catch_line":"Civil relief; damages","url":"\/18.2-152.12\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.12","metadata":false},{"id":61553,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.13","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-152.13\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.13","metadata":false},{"id":75179,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.14","catch_line":"Computer as instrument of forgery","url":"\/18.2-152.14\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.14","metadata":false},{"id":61998,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.15","catch_line":"Encryption used in criminal activity","url":"\/18.2-152.15\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.15","metadata":false},{"id":69363,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.16","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-152.16\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.16","metadata":false},{"id":54922,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.2","catch_line":"Definitions; computer crimes","url":"\/18.2-152.2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.2","metadata":false},{"id":55403,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.3","catch_line":"Computer fraud; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.3\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.3","metadata":false},{"id":65981,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.3:1","catch_line":"Transmission of unsolicited commercial electronic mail (spam); penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.3_1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.3_1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Jaynes v. Com.","case_number":"Record 062388.","citation":"666 S.E.2d 303","date":"2008-09-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058457\/jaynes-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 666 S.E.2d 303 (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Jaynes v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record 062388.","citation":"662 S.E.2d 502","date":"2008-05-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1208176\/jaynes-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 662 S.E.2d 502 (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Jaynes v. Com.","case_number":"Record 062388.","citation":"657 S.E.2d 478","date":"2008-02-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1374657\/jaynes-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 657 S.E.2d 478 (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Jaynes v. Commonwealth","case_number":"1054054","citation":"634 S.E.2d 357","date":"2006-09-05","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1063170\/jaynes-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 634 S.E.2d 357 (2006) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Maxient, LLC v. Symplicity Corp.","case_number":"Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-1184 (AJT\/IDD)","citation":"63 F. Supp. 3d 592","date":"2014-10-23","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7310209\/maxient-llc-v-symplicity-corp\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MEMORANDUM OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"5":{"name":"Aitken v. Communications Workers of America","case_number":"1:06cv1161","citation":"496 F. Supp. 2d 653","date":"2007-07-12","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2350492\/aitken-v-communications-workers-of-america\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 496 F.Supp.2d 653 (2007) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":86767,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.4","catch_line":"Computer trespass; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.4\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.4","metadata":false},{"id":55981,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.5","catch_line":"Computer invasion of privacy; penalties","url":"\/18.2-152.5\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5","metadata":false},{"id":82685,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.5:1","catch_line":"Using a computer to gather identifying information; penalties","url":"\/18.2-152.5_1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5_1","metadata":false},{"id":61696,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.6","catch_line":"Theft of computer services; penalties","url":"\/18.2-152.6\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.6","metadata":false},{"id":81717,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.7","catch_line":"Personal trespass by computer; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.7\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.7","metadata":false},{"id":66409,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.7:1","catch_line":"Harassment by computer; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.7_1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.7_1","metadata":false},{"id":71533,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.7:2","catch_line":"Using computer to commit a scheme involving false representations; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.7_2\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.7_2","metadata":false},{"id":86652,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.8","catch_line":"Property capable of embezzlement","url":"\/18.2-152.8\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.8","metadata":false},{"id":55168,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.9","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-152.9\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":86767,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.4","catch_line":"Computer trespass; penalty","url":"\/18.2-152.4\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.4","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":82685,"structure_id":13888,"section_number":"18.2-152.5:1","catch_line":"Using a computer to gather identifying information; penalties","url":"\/18.2-152.5_1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-152.5\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1984. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 751 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1984 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1985, chapter 398; in 2001, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0358\">358<\/a>; in 2005, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0747\">747<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0761\">761<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0827\">827<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0837\">837<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":73403,"section_number":"18.2-186.3","catch_line":"Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-186.3\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165805,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55981,"identifier":"18.2-152.5","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5","url":"\/18.2-152.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-152.5\/","token":"18.2\/5\/7.1\/18.2-152.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Computer invasion of privacy; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-152.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> A <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> is guilty of the <span class=\"dictionary\">crime<\/span> of computer invasion of privacy when he uses a computer or <span class=\"dictionary\">computer network<\/span> and intentionally examines without authority any employment, salary, credit or any other financial or identifying information, as defined in clauses (iii) through (xiii) of subsection C of &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance\" href=\"\/18.2-186.3\/\">18.2-186.3<\/a>, relating to any other <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span>. &#8220;Examination&#8221; under this section requires the offender to review the information relating to any other <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> after the time at which the offender knows or should know that he is without authority to view the information displayed. <a id=\"paragraph-205101\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-152.5\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> The <span class=\"dictionary\">crime<\/span> of computer invasion of privacy shall be punishable as a Class 1 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-205102\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-152.5\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> Any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> who violates this section after having been previously convicted of a violation of this section or any substantially similar <span class=\"dictionary\">laws<\/span> of any other state or of the United States is guilty of a Class 6 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-205103\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-152.5\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> Any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> who violates this section and sells or distributes such information to another is guilty of a Class 6 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-205104\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-152.5\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"E\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">E.<\/span> Any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> who violates this section and uses such information in the commission of another <span class=\"dictionary\">crime<\/span> is guilty of a Class 6 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-205105\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-152.5\/#E\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"F\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">F.<\/span> This section shall not apply to any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> collecting information that is reasonably needed to (i) protect the security of a computer, computer service, or computer business, or to facilitate diagnostics or repair in connection with such computer, computer service, or computer business or (ii) determine whether the computer user is licensed or authorized to use specific <span class=\"dictionary\">computer software<\/span> or a specific computer service. <a id=\"paragraph-205106\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-152.5\/#F\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMPUTER INVASION OF PRIVACY; PENALTIES (\u00a7 18.2-152.5)\n\nA. A person is guilty of the crime of computer invasion of privacy when he uses\na computer or computer network and intentionally examines without authority any\nemployment, salary, credit or any other financial or identifying information, as\ndefined in clauses (iii) through (xiii) of subsection C of &#xA7; 18.2-186.3,\nrelating to any other person. &#8220;Examination&#8221; under this section\nrequires the offender to review the information relating to any other person\nafter the time at which the offender knows or should know that he is without\nauthority to view the information displayed.\n\nB. The crime of computer invasion of privacy shall be punishable as a Class 1\nmisdemeanor.\n\nC. Any person who violates this section after having been previously convicted\nof a violation of this section or any substantially similar laws of any other\nstate or of the United States is guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\nD. Any person who violates this section and sells or distributes such\ninformation to another is guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\nE. Any person who violates this section and uses such information in the\ncommission of another crime is guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\nF. This section shall not apply to any person collecting information that is\nreasonably needed to (i) protect the security of a computer, computer service,\nor computer business, or to facilitate diagnostics or repair in connection with\nsuch computer, computer service, or computer business or (ii) determine whether\nthe computer user is licensed or authorized to use specific computer software or\na specific computer service.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 751; 1985, c. 398; 2001, c. 358; 2005, cc. 747, 761, 827, 837.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}