A man in Taiwan, identified as Hou, has received a three-month prison sentence for violating his wife’s privacy by accessing her Facebook account.
The local court found him guilty of “offences against computer security” under Taiwan’s criminal code.
The incident occurred following a dispute between the couple, with the wife cutting off all contact and leaving their home.
After a heated argument in May last year, Ms Yu, the wife, left their shared residence in Chiayi city, taking their young daughter with her.
In an attempt to reconcile, Hou logged into his wife’s Facebook account. Despite her refusal to communicate, he sent messages to their daughter and mother-in-law, expressing remorse and seeking their help to resolve the dispute.
he went on to access his wife’s Facebook account on two occasions in May and June 2022.
Using her account, he apologized for his behavior and requested intervention from their family members.
His own Facebook account status and the underlying motive for using his wife’s account remain unknown.
Upon discovering the privacy breach, Ms Yu decided to press charges against her husband. The court emphasized that individuals’ right to privacy should be respected, even within a marriage.
Hou pleaded guilty to unauthorized access and altering digital records, resulting in his conviction for “offences against computer security.”
Hou has been sentenced to three months in prison, although he has the option to commute the sentence by paying a daily fine of NT$1,000 (approximately £25).
It is yet to be determined whether he will choose to serve the prison term or opt for the fine.
