It's very well possible to monitor site mail, there's no encryption system. The messages are just plain text stored in the database, so anyone with the correct database access rights can read them.

I know how to design a database in such a way that ONLY the database administrator can assert the right to read another one's site mail. But this requires the use of stored procedures, which are not supported by MySQL 4.x.

So technically it's possible. But I don't think the staff has so much time on their hands that they're sifting through PMs.Maybe if someone reports abuse of the site mail system, for example a member receives hate mail or threats via site mail.

I don't know US and Tennessee law on this, but in Dutch law it is forbidden to read another one's mail. You'll need substantial suspicion of criminal activities plus a court order in order to read that mail legally.

The pen is mightier than the sword. But if you literally want to have some impact, use a typewriter

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