Is it assur to use "Find my iPhone" to see where someone is?

Home Forums Bais Medrash Is it assur to use "Find my iPhone" to see where someone is?

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  • #609776
    E-O-M
    Participant

    I’m not sure what the issur is per se- but i’m pretty sure its a sin to “spy” on someone by looking thru their phone or emails without their knowledge. I remember reading once that opening someone else’s mail is assur…. Having said that, what is the Issur? And how would it apply to the case of Find my Iphone- an app that allows you to locate your apple device from another device- so if your wife/husband/mother/brother don’t answer the phone, and you want to know their location- you can look it up without their knowledge.

    #961010
    Utah
    Member

    Is it Your Iphone? If it is there seems to be nothing wrong with that. A person wants to know what is going on with his stuff.

    If it is someone else’s Iphone then I wouldn’t recommend it because it is an invasion of privacy (which would also be a torah issur due to the fact that you follow the laws of the country you live in)

    And waht you are talking about is a takana Rabanu Gershon to not go through other people’s mail. (used to be letters then but would apply to E-mail)

    #961011
    littlefishy
    Member

    If you’re related to the person, or if the person knows that you could spy on them an allows you then its not assur

    #961012
    E-O-M
    Participant

    Utah- someone else’s phone. Thanks for reminding me about the RG takana that’s what i read, and I assume it applies to texts/emails

    Little fishy- how does being related make it allowed to spy without permission or knowledge.

    Bottom line is it just morally incorrect or is it also an aveirah

    #961013

    If you acknowledge that it is morally incorrect, why would it matter whether or not there is also a technical issur?

    #961014
    rebdoniel
    Member

    Rabbenu Gershom issued a takkana that it’s assur to read someone else’s mail. Included in this ban is looking at any information that a person prefers remain private, e.g. looking at private documents, health or legal records, and credit reports. The prohibition applies even if the person looking at these items does not plan on acting on the information that he sees, but is merely curious, or is interested in finding out what other people think and write about him, etc. Definitely looking in someone’s phone without their reshut is against this issur.

    Rambam paskens that one’s personal, private space/property is inviolate and cannot be invaded (Hilkhot Malveh Ve loveh 2:2). A cell phone can and should be seen as someone’s personal space, even if cell phones are metaltelin.

    #961015
    Biology (joseph)
    Participant

    I’m sure Sefardim aren’t allowed to read someone else’s mail or email, even though Rabbeinu Gershom’s takana doesn’t apply to them. So where does the prohibition for Sefardim come from?

    #961016
    rebdoniel
    Member

    Sephardim aren’t typically concerned with the herem (See RJJ Journal vol.11, p. 37).

    However, being concerned for others’ privacy is a middah tovah. Certain things don’t need to be prescribed by law in order for them to be moral and proper for the functioning of a civil society.

    #961017
    dabeen
    Member

    Gneivas Das

    #961018
    rebdoniel
    Member

    Eh, I wouldn’t say that’s so pashut.

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