Spy Act

Bill: 110-hr-964
Sponsor: Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-10]
Introduced: 2007-02-08 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Advertising
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Computer crimes
Computer hackers
Computer industry
Computer networks
Computer security measures
Computer software
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Crime and Law Enforcement
Electronic commerce
Evidence (Law)
Federal Trade Commission
Federal preemption
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Good samaritan laws
Government Operations and Politics
Identification devices
Independent regulatory commissions
Interactive media
Internet
Labeling
Law
Restrictive trade practices
Right of privacy
State laws
Sunset legislation
Telecommunication industry
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-08
text: 
Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act or Spy Act - Makes it unlawful for any person who is not the owner or authorized user (user) of a protected computer (a computer exclusively for the use of a financial institution or the U.S. Government, or a computer used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication) to engage in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with specified conduct, including: (1) taking unsolicited control of the computer; (2) modifying computer settings; (3) collecting personally identifiable information; (4) inducing the owner or authorized user to disclose personally identifiable information; (5) inducing the unsolicited installation of computer software; and (6) removing or disabling a security, anti-spyware, or anti-virus technology.
 
Makes it unlawful for a person to: (1) transmit to a protected computer any information collection program (a program that collects personally identifiable information and uses the information to send advertising), unless such program provides notice required by this Act before execution of any of the program's collection functions; or (2) execute any collection information program installed on a protected computer unless, before execution, the user has consented to such execution under notice requirements of this Act. Provides an exception with respect to Web pages visited within a particular website when the information collected is sent only to the provider of the website accessed.

action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act or Spy Act - (Sec. 2) Makes it unlawful for any person who is not the owner or authorized user (user) of a protected computer (a computer exclusively for the use of a financial institution or the U.S. government, or a computer used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication) to engage in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with specified conduct, including: (1) taking unsolicited control of the computer; (2) modifying computer settings; (3) collecting personally identifiable information; (4) inducing the owner or authorized user to disclose personally identifiable information; (5) inducing the unsolicited installation of computer software; and (6) removing or disabling a security, anti-spyware, or anti-virus technology.
 
(Sec. 3) Makes it unlawful for a person to: (1) transmit to a protected computer any information collection program (a program that collects personally identifiable information and uses the information to send advertising), unless such program provides notice required by this Act before downloading or installing any of the information collection program; or (2) execute any collection information program installed on a protected computer unless, before execution, the user has consented to such execution under notice requirements of this Act. Provides an exception with respect to Internet activity within a particular website when the information collected is sent only to the provider of the website accessed or Internet-based search function.
 
(Sec. 5) Sets forth various exceptions and limitations.
 
(Sec. 7) Requires reports.

action_date: 2007-06-06
text: 
Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act or Spy Act - (Sec. 2) Makes it unlawful for any person who is not the owner or authorized user (user) of a protected computer (a computer exclusively for the use of a financial institution or the U.S. government, or a computer used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication) to engage in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with specified conduct, including: (1) taking unsolicited control of the computer; (2) modifying computer settings; (3) collecting personally identifiable information; (4) inducing the owner or authorized user to disclose personally identifiable information; (5) inducing the unsolicited installation of computer software; and (6) removing or disabling a security, anti-spyware, or anti-virus technology.
 
(Sec. 3) Makes it unlawful for a person to: (1) transmit to a protected computer any information collection program (a program that collects personally identifiable information and uses the information to send advertising), unless such program provides notice required by this Act before downloading or installing any of the information collection program; or (2) execute any collection information program installed on a protected computer unless, before execution, the user has consented to such execution under notice requirements of this Act. Provides an exception with respect to Internet activity within a particular website when the information collected is sent only to the provider of the website accessed or Internet-based search function.
 
(Sec. 5) Sets forth various exceptions and limitations.
 
(Sec. 7) Requires reports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-07-17
text: Star Print ordered on the bill.
action_date: 2007-06-07
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-06-06
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-06-06
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 368 - 48 (Roll no. 434). (text: CR H6031-6035)
action_date: 2007-06-06
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 368 - 48 (Roll no. 434).(text: CR H6031-6035)
action_date: 2007-06-06
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6047-6048)
action_date: 2007-06-06
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2007-06-06
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 964.
action_date: 2007-06-06
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6031-6037)
action_date: 2007-06-06
text: Mr. Rush moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 101.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 110-169.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 110-169.
action_date: 2007-05-10
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
action_date: 2007-05-10
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-02-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2007-02-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2007-02-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-08
text: Introduced in House