Florida Statute 815.06
“Offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices”
What it means
Willfully accessing a computer, system, network, or electronic device without authorization — or exceeding authorization — is a third-degree felony, along with disrupting service, damaging equipment, introducing a computer contaminant, or conducting audio or video surveillance through a device. The grade climbs: second-degree felony for $5,000+ in damage, schemes to defraud, or interrupting government operations or public services; first-degree felony when the violation endangers human life or disrupts medical equipment used in direct patient care.
The owner may also bring a civil action for compensatory damages against a person convicted, and equipment used in the offense is subject to forfeiture.
- Unauthorized access — or exceeding authorization — is a third-degree felony (§815.06(2)(a), (3)(a)).
- Second-degree felony: $5,000+ in damage, a scheme to defraud, or disrupting government or public services.
- First-degree felony: endangering human life or disrupting medical equipment in direct patient care.
- Owners may sue a convicted person civilly for compensatory damages, with fees to the prevailing party.
- Exemptions: search warrants, acts within the scope of lawful employment, and authorized security operations.
How it plays out
This is the statute standing between a grieving family and the decedent's laptop. Guessing the password of someone who has died is access without the owner's authorization — the dead can't authorize anything. Florida's answer is Chapter 740, the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act: it gives a personal representative lawful authority over digital assets and devices, which is what keeps routine estate work outside §815.06. We tell families to hold the amateur forensics until that fiduciary authority exists.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 815.06 does real work:
Questions people ask
