A method for controlling access to an electronic message comprising: specifying an addressee for an electronic message; determining a message context for the electronic message by specifying one or more conditions selected from a group comprising a time condition, a location of the addressee condition and at least one other condition concerning the environment of the addressee, wherein the message context defines conditions that must be satisfied before the addressee of the message can access the message;detecting the context of the addressee and comparing the context of the addressee with the message context; and enabling access by the addressee to the electronic message when the detected context of the addressee corresponds to the message context.