House Passes Spyware Bills

On Monday, May 23, The U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills aimed at limiting spyware.

A number of U.S. states have already enacted such laws, including California.

The SPY-ACT Act, (Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act,) passed by a vote of 393-4

The bill (H.R. 29) would limit unauthorized access of a computer, and forbids transmission to a protected computer, any "information collection program," without notice and consent.

An "information collection program," is a program which collects personally identifiable information and sends such information to a person other than the owner or authorized user of the computer, or uses such information to deliver advertising.

The I-SPY Act (Internet Spyware Prevention Act), passed 395-1

The I-SPY bill would applie criminal penalties for intentionally accessing a computer without authorization for the purpose of planting unwanted software.

The U.S. Senate will now consider the bills.

Said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), "We passed this bill once before. Now, we've got to appeal to the
Senate to move it."