# Is it illegal to snitch?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-snitch/172954>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 4, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-snitch/172954 "2003-05-04T01:50:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-snitch/172954/1 "2003-05-04T01:50:56Z")

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Supposing my boss is cheating on his wife. And supposing I tell his wife. Outside of the risk of being canned. Is there any illegality involved?

I was discussing this with a coworker and she was like “that would be blackmail.” I don’t see how when I would do it regardless.

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**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-snitch/172954/2 "2003-05-04T01:58:46Z")

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First of all, IANAL.

That said, I’m pretty sure that it’s **not** illegal. Blackmail would require you to demand something from your boss in exchange for not telling his wife. Simply telling her would be perfectly legal.

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**Author:** ![Skillet38](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Skillet38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skillet38)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-snitch/172954/3 "2003-05-04T02:01:30Z")

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if in doubt

anonimity rules,

or foregoing that, try to manipulate her into the sack to get back at him

JUST JOKING !!!

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-snitch/172954/4 "2003-05-04T04:35:40Z")

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Your coworker is an idiot. IANALawyer wither, but speaking the truth is almost impossible to criminalize. The only ways you could fall afoul of the law are:

A. you are releasing classified information.  
B. you have signed some kind of non-disclosure agreement.

You COULD be fired, however.

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**Author:** ![LowerLip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/839c29/32.png) [@LowerLip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LowerLip)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-snitch/172954/5 "2003-05-04T11:09:45Z")

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IANAL but I don’t think that snitching is illegal as long as what you snitch about is true and there is no blackmail involved, etc.

Having said that, I wouldn’t recommend the idea against the mob. Snitching is illegal in their framework of justice and they have harsh penalties for wrongdoers.

LL