Is it illegal for parents to peek at their children's chat records?

It is illegal for parents to peek at their children's privacy. Although parents are closely related to their children, they still need their children's consent for their private content, otherwise it still constitutes an invasion of others' privacy. According to relevant national laws and regulations, privacy interests are personality interests explicitly protected by law. Therefore, if it constitutes infringement of privacy interests, the actor shall bear civil liability for infringement. If infringement of others' privacy causes mental damage to others, resulting in serious consequences, the victim has the right to request compensation for mental comfort.

People's Republic of China (PRC) Civil Code

Article 1032

Natural persons have the right to privacy. No organization or individual may infringe upon the privacy rights of others by spying, harassing, exposing or making public.

Privacy is the private space, private activities and private information that natural people live in peace and don't want to be known by others. Article 1033

Unless otherwise provided by law or expressly agreed by the obligee, no organization or individual may commit the following acts:

(a) by telephone, SMS, instant messaging tools, e-mail, leaflets, etc. Disturb the private life of others;

(2) Entering, taking photos or peeping into other people's private spaces such as houses and hotel rooms;

(3) Shooting, peeping, eavesdropping or revealing other people's private activities;

(4) Shooting or peeping at the private parts of others' bodies;

(5) handling other people's private information;

(6) Infringe upon the privacy of others in other ways.