Divorcing couple must swap site passwords

NEW LONDON, Conn., Nov. 16 (UPI) -- A judge in Connecticut has ordered a couple getting divorced to exchange Facebook and dating Web site passwords.

New London District Superior Court Judge Kenneth Shluger ordered the lawyers for Stephen and Courtney Gallion to exchange "their client's Facebook and dating Web site passwords," Forbes reports.

Gary Traystman, Stephen Gallion's divorce lawyer, said his client saw incriminating information on the computer he shares with his wife, leading him to suspect more evidence would turn up on her social networking accounts. Traystman said that could include how she feels about her children and her ability to care for them, which could help his client's argument for full custody.

During a deposition, Traystman asked Courtney Gallion for passwords to her Facebook account as well as her eHarmony.com and Match.com accounts. She at first refused but then turned them over when her lawyer advised her to do so.

Traystman said Courtney Gallion asked a friend in a text message to change the passwords and delete some of her messages

Traystman then asked for and got an injunction from Shluger barring Courtney Gallion from deleting material and ordered the lawyers to exchange passwords for both spouses so they could conduct discovery.

Forbes notes the order violates Facebook's terms of service, which require users not give their passwords to anyone else.