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18 U.S.C. § 2701

Unlawful access to stored communications

United States · Title 18 — CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · Status: effective

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18 U.S.C. § 2701, Unlawful access to stored communications, United States, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/449667
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Full text

Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section whoever— The punishment for an offense under subsection (a) of this section is— if the offense is committed for purposes of commercial advantage, malicious destruction or damage, or private commercial gain, or in furtherance of any criminal or tortious act in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States or any State— in any other case— Subsection (a) of this section does not apply with respect to conduct authorized—

Legislative history

The public laws that enacted or amended this section. Tallies are for the whole bill as it passed each chamber — often an omnibus covering far more than this provision — not a vote on this section alone.

  • Enacted byPub. L. 99-508(H.R. 4952)1986-10-21
    Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 103-322(H.R. 3355)1994-09-13
    Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
    House: 197–232Senate: 61–38
  • Amended byPub. L. 104-294(H.R. 3723)1996-10-11
    Economic Espionage Act of 1996
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 107-296(H.R. 5005)2002-11-25
    Homeland Security Act of 2002
    House: 295–132Senate: 90–9
  • Amended byPub. L. 115-278(H.R. 3359)2018-11-16
    Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally