Breaching an AUP a Crime In Western Australia 121
An anonymous reader writes "A recent court case highlights that breaching an acceptable use policy at work could land you in court in Western Australia: a police officer doing a search of the police database for a friend was fined — not for disclosing confidential police information, but for unlawful use of a 'restricted-access computer system' — cracking. More worryingly for West Australians, this legal blog points out that breaching any Acceptable Use Policy would seem to be enough to land you in jail for cracking — for example, using your internet connection to break copyright."
Pretty sure article/summary is overboard (Score:5, Informative)
It's no different than having access to a system tied into say patient records. There's no need or reason for you to go looking at information on someone else who you aren't treating or don't have permission to look at (for example in the US you have to sign papers for doctors to transfer your medical records etc to another doctors office).
I think the article is extrapolating something to include everything, where it shouldn't
Re:And that's why US law is different. (Score:5, Informative)
How could breach of contract EVER be a crime?? It is a breach of contract, not a violation of a law, when you breach a contract you get the consequences listed in the contract, or if you refuse them a civil law suit, but not a fine and not a prison sentence.
Re:And that's why US law is different. (Score:4, Informative)
Contracts that aren't signed are one thing, but if both parties have signed it, then it is a "Breach of contract", and definitely a crime in the US.
Breach of contract is NEVER a crime in the US.
When you borrow money from the bank, and then miss a payment, you are in breach of contract. That's not illegal. You aren't a criminal. Its not a crime.
The contract may spell out consequences when you are in breach that you may be subject to (such as having the full loan amount being immediately repayable...) and the bank can sue you for damages caused by you not making your payment... and so forth.