Computer Software Privacy and Control Act

Bill: 108-hr-4255
Sponsor: Rep. Inslee, Jay [D-WA-1]
Introduced: 2004-04-30 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advertising
Armed Forces and National Security
Arrest
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Computer crimes
Computer security measures
Computer software
Computers
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Cost accounting
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal justice information
Criminal statistics
Damages
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic commerce
Electronic surveillance
Encryption
Evidence (Law)
Federal Trade Commission
Federal preemption
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Identification devices
Independent regulatory commissions
Injunctions
Internet
Law
Parties to actions
Restrictive trade practices
Right of privacy
Telemarketing
Trials
Warrants (Law)
Web sites
Wiretapping

Summary:
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: 
Computer Software Privacy and Control Act of 2004 - Makes it unlawful for any person to transmit to a protected computer owned and operated by another person, or to transmit to such computer prior to its first retail sale, any computer software, or component thereof, that: (1) collects personal information about an owner or operator and transfers the information to any person other than such owner or operator; (2) monitors or analyzes the content of the Internet web pages accessed by a computer owner or operator and transfers that information to any person other than the owner or operator; or (3) modifies default computer settings selected by the owner or operator that affect the Web page first displayed, the Internet connection settings, or the actions or operations of any Internet search service offered by a provider of such services, unless, before any of actions above, notice is provided to, and consent is received from, such owner or operator, and such software or component includes a removal utility.
 
Makes it unlawful for a person to transmit to a protected computer any software that includes a function to deliver or display advertisements, unless notice is provided to, and consent is received from, the owner or operator.
 
Provides for enforcement of such prohibitions through: (1) the Federal Trade Commission; (2) criminal proceedings; or (3) State actions on behalf of its residents.
 
Requires semiannual reports from the Attorney General to the congressional judiciary committees concerning actions on warrants or other orders applied for by law enforcement agencies whose implementation involved the transmission or execution of computer software on a protected computer to record computer activity or to intercept any wire, oral, or electronic communications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2004-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-04-30
text: Introduced in House