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18 U.S.C. 2701 ECPA · Chapter 121: STORED WIRE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSACTIONAL RECORDS ACCESS

18 U.S.C. 2701 ECPA: Unlawful access to stored communications

United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.

Official text

Offense.⁠—Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section whoever⁠—
intentionally accesses without authorization a facility through which an electronic communication service is provided; or
intentionally exceeds an authorization to access that facility;
and thereby obtains, alters, or prevents authorized access to a wire or electronic communication while it is in electronic storage in such system shall be punished as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
Punishment.⁠—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—
a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both, in the case of a first offense under this subparagraph; and
a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both, for any subsequent offense under this subparagraph; and
in any other case⁠—
a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 1 year or both, in the case of a first offense under this paragraph; and
a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both, in the case of an offense under this subparagraph that occurs after a conviction of another offense under this section.
Exceptions.⁠—Subsection (a) of this section does not apply with respect to conduct authorized⁠—
by the person or entity providing a wire or electronic communications service;
by a user of that service with respect to a communication of or intended for that user; or
in section 2703, 2704 or 2518 of this title.

Source: United States Code, title 18, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced.

Source credit: (Added Pub. L. 99-508, title II, § 201[(a)] , Oct. 21, 1986 , 100 Stat. 1860 ; amended Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K) , (U), Sept. 13, 1994 , 108 Stat. 2147 , 2148; Pub. L. 104-294, title VI, § 601(a)(3) , Oct. 11, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3498 ; Pub. L. 107-296, title XXII, § 2207(j)(2) , formerly title II, § 225(j)(2), Nov. 25, 2002 , 116 Stat. 2158 , renumbered § 2207(j)(2), Pub. L. 115-278, § 2(g)(2)(I) , Nov. 16, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4178 .)

18 U.S.C. 2701 on the Office of the Law Revision Counsel

United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.

This is reference material, not legal advice.