In fact, if you have the habit of leaking audios, screenshots, and messages from WhatsApp and consider this act "harmless", you had better rethink your concepts (and your habits). This is because, according to the Penal Code, this can be a criminal attitude.

Indeed, the so-called "digital crime" is provided for in the Brazilian Penal Code, more precisely in Article 153, which criminalizes the act of "disclosing to someone, without just cause, the content of a private document or confidential correspondence, of which they are the recipient or holder, and whose disclosure may cause harm to another."

That's right! According to the rules established by justice, there is a Law regarding this situation, which can generate penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment for up to 6 months.

However, being relatively new, this Law, which aims to protect personal or confidential documents shared in the messaging app, is still unknown to many Brazilians.

Within this same scenario, there is also the possibility of violating Article V of the Federal Constitution - considered the most important of our body of Laws. Such a fact occurs, for example, when photos of other people are shared without prior authorization. This act is seen as a violation of the rights to intimacy and privacy and can lead the offender to face a lawsuit for moral or material damages, but without the chance of imprisonment.

Every rule has its exception

Like most Laws, this digital crime also has some exceptions. In this case, there is a loophole in the Law that allows the leaking of content shared on the social network, provided there is a judicial warrant capable of authorizing the breach of confidentiality.

After all, in some situations, images, audios, and screenshots serve as possible evidence to acquit or incriminate a person who has committed a crime.

And you? Did you already know about this Law? Knowing it, do you intend to change your digital habits from now on? It is a good time to reflect on this. Moreover, if this information was interesting to you, keep an eye on the CodeBit blog and don't miss the articles with updates, reviews, and tips about the digital universe!

A big hug and see you in the next post.