Among other places, in the United States. The CFAA [0] prohibits "access[ing] a computer without authorization or exceed[ing] authorized access". It's interpreted extremely broadly by the courts.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Fraud_and_Abuse_Act

Here in Illinois they have a specific law which makes violating ToS a criminal offense punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=0...

This means I could set up watchcutecatpictures.org with some fine print that prohibits watching more than 10 cats a day and call the cops on random people.

What legal reasoning exists to give companies this kind of unchecked power?

Just to make certain put a button that says "I agree" next to a link to the T+Cs.

>According to the court, DeJohn's claim that he did not read those terms was >irrelevant because, absent fraud (which was not alleged), "failure to read a >contract is not a get out of jail free card."

https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/publications/click-wr...