In an era where most personal, financial, and family information is stored on smartphones and in the cloud, divorce proceedings have become a complex technological battleground. Attorney Golan Aharon of Aharon & Co., who specializes in family law and criminal law, emphasizes that attempts to gain a procedural advantage within a family dispute can cross red lines and lead to severe criminal consequences. According to Aharon, the increased accessibility to private information—including correspondence, photos, and location data—tempts spouses to try and obtain a 'smoking gun.' However, actions such as hacking into accounts or using surveillance software can shift the dispute from the Family Court into the criminal domain.
A key issue occupying the legal system is the entry of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into divorce cases. According to Aharon, the technological capacity to create convincing forgeries of recordings and photos requires lawyers and courts to carefully scrutinize the authenticity of every digital piece of evidence submitted. Threatening to use intimate or private materials for leverage in negotiations is also seen as a clear red line and may lead to criminal proceedings for extortion or privacy violations.
Another phenomenon noted by Aharon is 'digital kidnapping,' which involves one party taking control of passwords, cloud accounts, or business digital assets belonging to their spouse. In these cases, when the digital asset is a source of income or of economic value, civil disputes may arise alongside criminal aspects of unauthorized access to information. Technology is also penetrating the tangible home space: 'smart home' systems that allow remote control of cameras, microphones, and lighting can become tools for monitoring and harassing a spouse. Aharon clarifies that such conduct can lead to complaints for illegal wiretapping or harassment.
When dealing with a separation, Aharon recommends performing a 'digital housecleaning,' which includes changing passwords and checking access permissions for devices, while simultaneously warning against attempts by a spouse to act as a detective. He argues that collecting evidence through illegal means is a dangerous step that can damage the acting party's standing in legal proceedings and expose them to further legal consequences. The message emerging from these points is that in a modern separation, digital detachment requires as much attention as the settlement of property or parental issues.