# Is looking up someone's public criminal/civil records online a violation of their privacy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2015, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903 "2015-08-15T05:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/1 "2015-08-15T05:22:47Z")
Suppose hypothetically I’ve been dating someone for a couple of months. Bored at work one day, I do a search of her name on my state’s judiciary case search website and find out she had a divorce which she never told me about. In a real situation, last year I met a woman at a party and we dated a while. About a month into dating, my friend calls me to tell me he did a case search on her and found out she was arrested for attempting to drive while intoxicated about 5 years ago. I asked her about it and she was a bit embarrassed, but it didn’t lead to any problems. Personally, people have looked me up before when I was doing the online dating thing. I wasn’t terribly bothered by it, because I don’t have any court records I’m embarrassed about. But I know everyone’s different. Is either situation above an invasion of privacy? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/2 "2015-08-15T06:42:32Z")
Not by law. Such data are public record. I might be inclined to wonder in either case: 1. Somebody to whom I’m romantically inclined felt it necessary to look me up or 2. I looked up something that _really, really_ should have been mentioned and wasn’t So: It’s legal, but do it at your own risk. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/3 "2015-08-15T06:49:01Z")
Removed. I’m making no sense since I’m so tired. I’ll post in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/4 "2015-08-15T09:22:49Z")
It’s not a breach of privacy in any wayt that is legally actionable. On the other hand, depending on the circumstances (and depending on what you do with the information you elicit) it may well violate social conventions about the respect we should afford to other people and their backstories. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/5 "2015-08-15T10:21:48Z")
With the one exception that I might want to know if the woman had a history of stabbing her lovers in their sleep, I can’t imagine caring enough to do this. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/6 "2015-08-15T10:35:20Z")
This is more of an opinion survey than a debate. Moved to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/7 "2015-08-15T10:50:54Z")
Yes, its a violation of their privacy, but a totally reasonable one if it’s someone you’re intending to get into a serious long term relationship with. If someone’s reaction to this kind of public search is hostile, they’re hiding something and its a pretty good bet that I’m far better off not being in a relationship with them. ---
**Author:** ![Hiker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3be4f8/32.png) [@Hiker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiker)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/8 "2015-08-15T13:25:14Z")
It may not be a violation of their privacy, but it sure is a clear indication that you do not trust them to tell you what you need to know about them. So it may not be the perfect basis for a romantic relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/9 "2015-08-15T14:39:43Z")
> [@Hiker](#): > > It may not be a violation of their privacy, but it sure is a clear indication that you do not trust them to tell you what you need to know about them. So it may not be the perfect basis for a romantic relationship. ^ This. Something about this, even just researching someone, screams “Stalker” to me. It feels wrong, even if it can be rationalized with a straight face. If you feel I’m wrong, please tell me specifically why you feel that this person is part of that 1% of 1% that make up the plots of Cheesy Lifetime movies. Why would you invest large sums of money or time on researching someone when, if you feel that way, you should be dumping them immediately? Bonus Points of you can avoid saying “because he’s/she’s rich as a Dupont” or “hung like an oak tree/ fills out that bikini just right”. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/10 "2015-08-15T14:42:36Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > ^ This. > > Something about this, even just researching someone, screams “Stalker” to me. It feels wrong, even if it can be rationalized with a straight face. If you feel I’m wrong, please tell me specifically why you feel that this person > is part of that 1% of 1% that make up the plots of Cheesy Lifetime movies. Why would you invest large sums of money or time on researching someone when, if you feel that way, you should be dumping them immediately? > > Bonus Points of you can avoid saying “because he’s/she’s rich as a Dupont” or “hung like an oak tree/ fills out that bikini just right”. How about – “S/he is someone I might become interested in seriously, but I don’t want to continue dating with the presumed goal of falling for her if she has background issues that seem like deal-breakers?” ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/11 "2015-08-15T14:44:31Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > ^ This. > > Something about this, even just researching someone, screams “Stalker” to me. It feels wrong, even if it can be rationalized with a straight face. If you feel I’m wrong, please tell me specifically why you feel that this person > is part of that 1% of 1% that make up the plots of Cheesy Lifetime movies. **Why would you invest large sums of money or time on researching someone** when, if you feel that way, you should be dumping them immediately? > > Bonus Points of you can avoid saying “because he’s/she’s rich as a Dupont” or “hung like an oak tree/ fills out that bikini just right”. (Bolding mine) I don’t think anyone but you has postulated this. The OP’s theoretical involved a free search that takes 60 seconds. Speaking personally, I’ve googled the names of people I’ve met online, either before or immediately after asking them out on an IRL date. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/12 "2015-08-15T14:48:03Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > (Bolding mine) > > I don’t think anyone but you has postulated this. The OP’s theoretical involved a free search that takes 60 seconds. Speaking personally, I’ve googled the names of people I’ve met online, either before or immediately after asking them out on an IRL date. I took it to the extreme but its still a slippery slope… and not everyone has your self control to stop at 60 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/13 "2015-08-15T18:59:17Z")
Anyone who googles me will be led back to this message board. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/14 "2015-08-15T21:41:02Z")
We’ll give you a good reference. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/15 "2015-08-15T21:55:43Z")
I dunno, the first hit is [Bryan Ekers, why are you ignorant?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=282484) ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/16 "2015-08-17T03:13:54Z")
I have a rental suite and everyone that gets any consideration for it, I do a criminal and civil search. Good thing too. A couple of years ago, one guy turned out of have a weapons charge and an assault charge against him. Needless to say, he was bypassed. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/17 "2015-08-17T16:04:58Z")
Whatever happened to taking a chance on love? So you might be killed, but is it really worth it to try and prevent that when you may also eliminate the mystery in courting someone? Besides, just because they killed someone in the past is no guarantee they’ll kill you. Give them the benefit of the doubt, I’m sure the other person deserved it 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/18 "2015-08-17T16:21:37Z")
Ask anyone what they saw in their psycho ex, and they’ll usually say that they were completely charming and a really good liar. So, trust but verify? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/19 "2015-08-17T16:36:40Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I dunno, the first hit is [Bryan Ekers, why are you ignorant?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=282484) Some chicks like that. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903/20 "2015-08-17T16:49:54Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Ask anyone what they saw in their psycho ex, and they’ll usually say that they were completely charming and a really good liar. So, trust but verify? Don’t verify! They probably had a lot of terrific sex with their psycho ex, isn’t that worth the years of stalking and phone calls in the middle of the night? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-looking-up-someones-public-criminal-civil-records-online-a-violation-of-their-privacy/727903.md?page=2)