Follow Us

Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Internet Law Regulation Technology Media and Telecom United States Supreme Court White Collar Crime

Supreme Court Narrowly Interprets CFAA to Avoid Criminalizing ‘Commonplace Computer Activity’

The Court held that only those who obtain information from particular areas of the computer which they are not authorized to access can be said to “exceed authorization.”

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

On June 3, 2021, the United States Supreme Court issued a 6-3 opinion in Van Buren v. United States, No. 19-783, resolving the circuit split regarding what it means to “exceed[] authorization” for purposes of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The Court held that only those who obtain information from particular areas of the computer which they are not authorized to access can be said to “exceed authorization,” and the statute does not — as the government had argued — cover behavior, like Van Buren’s, where a person accesses information which he is authorized to access but does so for improper purposes. This was a long-awaited decision interpreting the CFAA, which has become an important statute in both criminal and civil enforcement relating to computer crime and hacking.

This premium content is locked for Business Crimes Bulletin subscribers only

Continue reading by getting
started with a subscription.

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS FOR WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND REGULATORY PRACTITIONERS.
  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • All aspects of financial and white-collar crime are covered
  • Tap into expert guidance from top white-collar crime adn regulatory lawyers and experts

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Subscribe Now For Unlimited Access

Read These Next