Random question about texting

[Amber]

So, I have a friend who got in trouble, and long story short her parents are trying to have Verizon send them copies of all of her text messages, since she has deleted most of them. Is this actually possible though? Would they not need some kind of legal action first since while her messages are "theirs", the messages of the people she talks to aren't? Or can the phone company actually send them transcripts of her conversations? TIA...

Hope this post doesn't seem too sketchy...

[Doberluv]

I would think that only the police could IF they had a warrant...a court order. I'm not sure. But I doubt that the phone company would release that to civilians, even if they are her parents. Like you said, the other peoples' texts should be protected and the parents of your friend don't have the right to dig them up. At least that's what makes the most sense to me. I guess she'd have to ask a lawyer or maybe even the police what the law would be in this case.

[Renee750il]

She'd have to ask a lawyer -- or do some online legal research herself.

Police know NOTHING, ZIP, NADA about stuff like this unless by some weird chance you talk to one who has been through the same experience.

This is one of those legal issues that's still being defined as technology moves far more quickly than the law can possibly be applied.

[Greenmagick]

Do her parents own/pay for the phone? If so, the messages I would assume are technically theirs?

[release the hounds]

I would think if the parents own the account, they can get the text messages. I mean if a grown adult can't send an email from a work computer to a friend without having the employer have privy to all emails sent from that computer, I can't see how they are going to deny the parents of a child and owner of account and cell phone the text messages.

I don't agree with it, i happen to think if the messages aren't intended for you, you don't get to just say I want to see them and get to look unless the sender or recipient wants to show you.

[RD]

I am not sure if this is possible, simply based on the sheer amount of resources it would take for Verizon to log the contents of every message sent. I think the only thing they record is the number the text is sent to, not the message itself. And yes, they could get a log of the numbers that phone has contacted, provided they own the account and her phone is just an addition to their family plan or whatever.

So as far as I know, the details of your friend's texts are safe. This may have changed since the last time I got in trouble and freaked out over my texting history, though.

[yoko]

Originally Posted by RD

I am not sure if this is possible, simply based on the sheer amount of resources it would take for Verizon to log the contents of every message sent. I think the only thing they record is the number the text is sent to, not the message itself. And yes, they could get a log of the numbers that phone has contacted, provided they own the account and her phone is just an addition to their family plan or whatever.

So as far as I know, the details of your friend's texts are safe. This may have changed since the last time I got in trouble and freaked out over my texting history, though.

Sorry for double post.

They do log them but it's a pain to pull them especially if it's been over a week. But they are kept

[-bogart-]

how old is this kid? well i guess it really doesn't matter. I dont know if they can get transcripts , but I think they can get sent / recieved date time log. I know I can on my hubby boost phone.

[CaliTerp07]

I'm guessing that since mommy and daddy pay for it, it's technically their phone (and therefore their messages)

Is your friend a minor?

[Amber]

Yes she's a minor. I'm still not sure about this..Reading the Verizon website's Q&A there seems to be no consensus either...