[BillF]

What would be the violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)?

I initially thought that NCPAC had been the victim of a keystroke logger device, spyware, or similar and, thus, the law had been violated.

Now it appears that MD4Bush gave copies of the FReepmails to the WaPo either directly or, more likely, through a cutout. How would that violate ECPA? Can't you legally show copies of emails/FReepmails to others?

[HAL9000]

Now it appears that MD4Bush gave copies of the FReepmails to the WaPo either directly or, more likely, through a cutout. How would that violate ECPA? Can't you legally show copies of emails/FReepmails to others?

The original sender or recipient can legally show copies of email because they are parties to the original communication.

But it wouldn't take any sophisticated techniques like keystroke loggers or spyware to intercept the messages. It could simply be a different person accessing the same computer where the the original person was already logged on to Free Republic. All of the email would be sitting there, ready to be intercepted and passed on illegally.

The Washington Post story did not explain the chain of custody of the emails. The popular assumption that the NCPAC from October of last year is the same NCPAC who posted a few days ago is dubious and unproven.

[HAL9000]

I'm sorry - that last sentence shoud read "The popular assumption that the MD4Bush from October of last year is the same MD4Bush who posted a few days ago is dubious and unproven."