According to Fortune.com, on July 5, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals put forth an opinion that decided that password sharing could call for prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).
David Nosal, an employee at the search firm Korn/Ferry International, continued to access information from Korn/Ferry in an attempt to start up a new search firm, even after he had been fired by Korn/Ferry.
The CFAA also made it somewhat possible for those sharing Netflix and HBO Go passwords could be prosecuted. However, both Netflix and HBO Go have said they are indifferent about password sharing.
According to Marketwatch.com, HBO Chief Executive Richard Plepler told BuzzFeed in 2014 that password sharing wasn’t a problem, and actually aided in exposing the brand.
Although the CFAA does technically prohibit the password sharing, the federal government can’t enforce it with such high numbers, and the companies involved (i.e. Netflix, HBO), are more for password sharing than against it. So don’t worry! Go ahead and share that password with your new girlfriend.
