Recent California Federal Court Rulings Muddy the Interpretation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act

Does the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”) prohibit hacking–improperly gaining entrance into a computer system–or simply prohibit improper use of a computer system? U.S. Courts of Appeal are divided. Now, district and appellate court judges in a single federal case pending in the Northern District of California, U.S. v. Nosal, have produced several divergent opinions regarding congressional intent with respect to the meaning of the CFAA.

The defendant in Nosal allegedly persuaded employees of his former employer to log in to the employer’s computer system and forward confidential information to him. Nosal allegedly planned to use the information to compete with his former employer.

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