Invasion of privacy

I loaned a relative (nephew) a mobile smart phone to barrow (to use temporarily) while he is at school here, and I’m paying the bill on the thing. According to the phone bill he hasn’t been using it for a phone, but just accessing the internet (and apparently downloading porn on to it). When I was at his house recently I picked up the phone and wanted to start scrolling through what kind of stuff he is downloading on to MY phone. Someone said I was invading his privacy by doing so if he wasn’t in the room or didn’t give me permission to look at it, even if it’s my personal property. Am I invading another persons privacy by looking at the contents of a device that belongs to me?

Digital Matrix:

Am I invading another persons privacy by looking at the contents of a device that belongs to me?

Of course you are.

The question is, are you doing anything illegal.

I think not.

Why not just take the phone back if you object to what he's doing with it?

And if you still want to help him out, give him a cheap phone that just makes phone calls.

Illegal, no your right

Meddling, yes I’m probably in the wrong

Actually I just turned off the service entirely. I'm not worried about getting the phone back so if he wants to get service back he can do it on his own dime. I don’t mind helping others out but I get a bit peeved when they take advantage of it.