Can Circuit City techs legally peruse files?

[steelaz]

I stumbled upon interesting read today:

"What: Pennsylvania man accused of possessing illegal images objects to Circuit City technician perusing his video files and then alerting police.

When: Superior Court of Pennsylvania rules on December 5.

Outcome: Evidence of illegal images allegedly discovered by technician can be used in court."

Full article on news[dot]com/Police-Blotter-Can-Circuit-City-techs-legally-peruse-files/2100-7348_3-6222794.html?tag=newsmap

Would you call police?

[Simmy]

I would definitely tell the police, without a doubt. Whether I am legally allowed to peruse files is a separate case, but as a technician I need access to files on the machine in order to do my job.

I don't actively look in peoples private documents, but I will take a look at the odd file to make sure any backups/restorations are in tact (i.e. make sue a word document or picture opens properly).

[gunslinger]

I'm pretty sure this has come up here before in a thread I started. As for what I would do, it depends on what I had seen. If it was a profit list made from the sell of drugs I might not turn it in.(could just be wishfull thinking) If it was kiddy porn I would turn them in at once. I actually had to do that last year.

[focuz]

It would depend on what I found. I don't purposely look through files and respect my clients but if they had a kiddy porn wallpaper set up then it would definitely be a flag for the police.

[Leztek]

Hye all...

I have to agree with the Kiddie porn..

What about someone who has a pile of mp3s on their computer?

Jus wondering if you turn a cheek on it?

[steelaz]

Well mp3s are not illegal...

[Leztek]

Ok... Let me re-phrase...

You see Limewire and you know for a fact the person is not using the pay service. They have 100 plus songs downloaded on their system...

[Simmy]

I wouldn't do anything about mp3's/movies/software because it doesn't affect anyone in the same way that child pornography does.

[Leztek]

Originally Posted by Simmy

I wouldn't do anything about mp3's/movies/software because it doesn't affect anyone in the same way that child pornography does.

Point taken... I guess what I am trying to figure out is what you would report and what you wouldn't report...

[gunslinger]

I would report anything that I personally find immoral and wrong. I don't have a problem with someone downloading mp3 files, software, movies or anything like that. If I turned those people in I would also have to turn in anyone I had ever seen record a PPV event, or a song off the radio. There is not one person on here that has not at some point pirated something, including myself. I draw the line at child porn and such because like Simmy said its hurting people. I'm not real concerned that madonna is going to make a few cents less this year or adobe is not going to rip someone a new one with their $700+ price tag.