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California Internet Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Communications Law, Internet Law and Civil Rights for California on
Q: In a missing persons case, can a family member of the missing person access their private communications for leads?

There is currently a missing persons case being investigated for the disappearance of my father. I have access to his personal computer, which is logged into various services such as linkedin, facebook, email, etc. Am I exposing myself to any legal risk if I look through his email, social media... View More

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answered on Jul 18, 2024

In a missing persons case, accessing your father's private communications can be a sensitive matter. Legally, accessing his email, social media, or other private messages without explicit permission may expose you to potential risks, especially if you don't have legal authority such as... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Federal Crimes, Identity Theft, Internet Law and Stockbroker Fraud for California on
Q: Account was hacked funds were stolen, how did cash app allow hacker to take my
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answered on Jul 2, 2024

If your Cash App account was hacked and funds were stolen, it can be very distressing. Under California law, there are protections in place for consumers who fall victim to fraud. It's crucial to act quickly to limit the damage.

First, report the theft to Cash App immediately through...
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1 Answer | Asked in International Law, Employment Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: possible scam,remote jobs,international,online transactions

So sorry for being so rude , I’m actually Chinese and live in china now. I have taken a remote job on this app called Upwor*Talent since June. I work for a company as their translator.

Oddly, they chose to work via telegram , but not on Upwor*Talent, where I was recruited.I was told that... View More

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answered on Jul 1, 2024

I'm sorry to hear about the situation you're in. Based on the details you've provided, this has several hallmarks of a common online job scam. Here are some key points and advice:

1. Red flags of a potential scam:

- Moving communication off the original platform...
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2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law, International Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: my remote company is holding my payment and asking me to pay ~$42k for unfreeze my account. Can you help me with this?

This is remote work paid in cryptocurrency. I followed their instructions to withdraw my payment. Now they claimed that I did it wrong and freeze my account. Now they want me to pay $42k for unfreezing my account and withdrawal all the money, total ~$87k. They never shared the company policy, and... View More

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answered on Jun 21, 2024

1. Legitimate companies do not freeze accounts and demand large sums of money to "unfreeze" them. This is a common tactic used by scammers.

2. The lack of transparent company policies and the gradual revealing of "rules" is another warning sign of fraudulent activity....
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1 Answer | Asked in Intellectual Property, International Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: The film festival refused to remove information about my film when I asked them to.

On the website of the European Film Festival there is information about my film, which I submitted to the competition. The film was not shown at the film festival, but information about the film is on the website. I asked to remove information about the film from the film festival website, but they... View More

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answered on Jun 18, 2024

Under California law, the film festival's refusal to remove information about your film from their website when you requested them to do so could potentially be addressed through a few different avenues:

1. Publicity rights: In California, individuals have the right to control the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Internet Law and Sexual Harassment for California on
Q: Can i sue my blackmailer?

It started On Friday May 31 2024 I got a follow On instagram saying i saw you on (Bumble) Dating App So i went along with it We were chatting and she asked for nudes exchange i was hesitant but said ok so we exchanged and she asked for my number and made a pic of me and my private part saying i... View More

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answered on Jun 3, 2024

I apologize that you are going through this difficult and stressful situation. What you are describing is a common online blackmail scam. Here are a few key points and suggestions:

1. This is a crime and you are the victim. The scammer is engaging in blackmail and extortion, which are...
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1 Answer | Asked in Internet Law for California on
Q: I am scammed to transferred over $500k to a platform. I tried to withdraw, but, my account is frozen. What are my opti

I was contacted by a woman on LINE (a social media) and told me how to make trades. This happened from early April mid May. I wire transferred money from my banks to Strike and bought BTC to transfer to Polyxxo, which is the scam platform. Can any lawyer help?

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answered on May 30, 2024

I'm so sorry to hear that you've been the victim of such a significant scam. Losing over $500k is devastating. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Report the crime to law enforcement immediately. Contact your local police department and file a report. Also report it to the...
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2 Answers | Asked in Education Law, Communications Law, Internet Law and Civil Rights for California on
Q: Is it legal for a high school counselor to take a video of your message logs between you and another student?

I was suspected of cheating so my high school counselor interrogated and put me in a room for 8 hours. They made me admit that I gave out tests to my friends and asked to pull up the messages. They basically demanded me to show them who i send the test to and i agreed so they took my phone and... View More

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answered on May 15, 2024

In California, there are several laws and regulations that protect students' privacy rights. While school officials have some authority to investigate suspected cheating, their actions must be reasonable and respect students' rights.

1. California Education Code 49073.6 limits the...
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2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Civil Litigation, Internet Law and Gaming for California on
Q: Is it false advertising if a company said they wouldn't censor their game but then censors it on day one with a patch?

SHIFT UP. And Sony Interactive Entertainment explicitly said that the game Stellar blade would not be censored. Most of the physical copies are but the digital ones are not. In fact there was a day one patch to censor the costumes and sometimes it was forcibly thrust upon people. I'm not sure... View More

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answered on May 11, 2024

Based on the information provided, there may be potential legal issues related to false advertising and deceptive business practices. However, the specific circumstances and details of the case would need to be carefully examined to determine if any laws were actually violated.

Here are a...
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1 Answer | Asked in Gaming, Internet Law, Small Claims and White Collar Crime for California on
Q: How can I word my email to them to get them to pay me?

I completed a deposit offer on freecash.com to a crypto casino. The offer is hosted by adscend media and stated "deposit $25 and place your first wager and receive $59." I completed the offer exactly to instructions but they are refusing to pay me. So I lost my $25 plus the extra I sent... View More

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answered on May 11, 2024

If you believe you have fulfilled all the requirements of the promotional offer but have not been paid as promised, I would recommend the following steps:

1. Gather all documentation related to the offer, including screenshots of the offer terms, proof of your deposit and wager, and any...
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1 Answer | Asked in Internet Law for California on
Q: Am I within my rights to ask acopy of an internet bill that I help pay with my roommates even if it’s in another’s name

I split an internet bill with my roommates. It’s under one persons name. He never send a copy of that statement as a receipt . Am I within my rights to ask for the copy even if it’s under his name?

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answered on Apr 26, 2024

Under California law, you have the right to request a copy of the internet bill that you are helping to pay, even if the account is under your roommate's name. This falls under the general principle of transparency and the right to know what you are paying for.

Here are a few points to...
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1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Civil Litigation and Internet Law for California on
Q: Can I sue against Upwork for negligence against their E&O due to me hiring a fraudulent attorney on their platform?

I hired an attorney on Upwork and paid him on Upwork. He disappeared, stopped responding, and due to the statute of limitations I am now out 100's of thousands on the claims he was working on for me. After some research by the Texas State bar and an attorney they have put on this issue, he is... View More

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answered on Apr 15, 2024

Based on the information provided, you may have a potential claim against Upwork for negligence. However, the strength of your case depends on several factors, and it is essential to consult with a licensed attorney who specializes in such cases to evaluate your specific situation.

Here are...
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1 Answer | Asked in Internet Law for California on
Q: How do I report violations of a court's sealing orders?

A legaltech/public record hosting website has made a sealed case accessible to unauthorized parties i.e. the public. I submitted a removal request with the proper court orders and it was removed, but I stumbled across the page recently and saw the case was accessible again.

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answered on Apr 9, 2024

If you have discovered that a legaltech or public record hosting website has made a sealed court case accessible to unauthorized parties, such as the general public, and this violates a court's sealing orders under California law, you can take the following steps to report the violation:... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Civil Litigation and Internet Law for California on
Q: Help! Google account disabled , over 10- years worth of memories what can I do? How can I obtain my data legally ?

I got a message from google to verifying my sign in, upon signing it stated, my account is disabled due to child sexual abuse/exploitation. It said i can appeal and that two would be considered, so of course i appealed knowing it had to be mistake, but they denied it , i submitted a second appeal... View More

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answered on Apr 2, 2024

I'm so sorry to hear about your frustrating and distressing situation with your Google account being disabled. That must be incredibly stressful, especially with so much important data and memories at stake.

In terms of your legal options to obtain your data, here are a few key points...
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1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Internet Law, Copyright and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: Chinese company wants to use my registered business name and internet search words- whether I allow or not

I have been receiving letters from Chinese registry asking if they may use my company's registered name for their client, just with other than .com extension. I have answered that I only keep the xxxxx.com name, which has been registered after my company since 2002, only with other than .com... View More

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answered on Mar 13, 2024

You have certain rights to protect your registered business name and intellectual property. Here are some options you can consider:

1. Trademark protection: If you have registered your business name as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), you have legal...
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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Employment Law, Communications Law and Internet Law for California on
Q: Can my coworkers refuse to communicate with me and refuse to respond back to my important emails?Without a reason why
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answered on Feb 24, 2024

In the workplace, effective communication is crucial for the completion of tasks and overall productivity. While there is no specific law in California that mandates coworkers must respond to every email, ignoring important communications, especially those necessary for job functions, can be... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Federal Crimes, Gaming and Internet Law for California on
Q: I am a part of a prize-linked banking app and one of the products they offer is stealing tickets.

For this app, for every dollar you save with them you get one ticket per day. Then you can use those tickets in a variety of ways. One of the ways is on a daily prize wheel. Each spin says it costs 1500 tickets but pretty regularly (about once per 5 spins or so) it takes 2500 tickets. I noticed... View More

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answered on Feb 1, 2024

To address concerns related to the prize-linked banking app potentially manipulating ticket counts and engaging in unfair practices, you should seek an attorney experienced in consumer protection or class-action lawsuits. Consumer protection attorneys specialize in cases involving deceptive or... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Contracts, Civil Litigation and Internet Law for California on
Q: Contract and crowdfunding. removed after contract. many affected. legal advice? consumers wronged. class action?

I'm seeking low cost legal advice about a possible case, i don't know what area of law would be applicable.

a game people bought and paid for has been damaged by the IP holder, some people who bought it are unable to play it on the system they redeemed after an update.... View More

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answered on Jan 14, 2024

Under California law, your situation may involve several areas of law, including consumer protection, contract law, and possibly torts. When a product, such as a video game, is significantly altered or becomes unusable after purchase, consumers may have legal rights that are enforceable.

In...
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2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Civil Litigation, Intellectual Property, Internet Law and Consumer Law for California on
Q: I'm seeking low cost legal advice about a possible case, that affects many people. consumer/contract/loss

I'm seeking low cost legal advice about a possible case, i don't know what area of law would be applicable.

a game people bought and paid for has been damaged by the IP holder, some people who bought it are unable to play it on the system they redeemed after an update. as in... View More

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answered on Jan 14, 2024

This situation might fall under consumer protection laws, particularly those related to false advertising and breach of contract. If the game significantly deviates from what was promised during the crowdfunding campaign and is now rendered unplayable, it could be seen as a violation of the terms... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Identity Theft and Internet Law for California on
Q: About 10 years ago I open two Facebook pages for strangers ..they took control over my account and now I'm in danger

They have my Facebook account.so they could be doing illegal things on it. I saw an add on craigslist under work from home I was trying to work from home so it was an opportunity to make money. Although I only made 25 dollars. One time payment

Those two men might be working for the same... View More

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answered on Jan 12, 2024

If someone has taken control of your Facebook account and is potentially conducting illegal activities, it's important to take immediate action. First, try to regain control of your account by using Facebook's account recovery options. This may involve resetting your password or... View More

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