Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1525
Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16]
Introduced: 2007-03-14 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Bank accounts
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Computer crimes
Computer hackers
Computer security measures
Computer software
Credit cards
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Identification devices
Identity theft
Internet
Law
Prosecution
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Social security numbers

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-14
text: 
Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization, or exceeding authorized access, by causing a computer program or code to be copied onto the protected computer, and intentionally using that program or code: (1) in furtherance of another federal criminal offense; (2) to obtain or transmit personal information (including a Social Security number or other government-issued identification number, a bank or credit card number, or an associated password or access code) with intent to defraud or injure a person or cause damage to a protected computer; or (3) to impair the security protection of that computer.

Prohibits any person from bringing a civil action under state law premised upon the defendant's violating this Act.

Provides that this Act does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency or a U.S. intelligence agency.

Authorizes appropriations to the Attorney General for prosecutions needed to discourage the use of spyware and the practices called phishing and pharming.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Justice should vigorously prosecute those who use spyware to commit crimes and those that conduct phishing and pharming scams.

action_date: 2007-05-21
text: 
Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2007
 - 
(Sec. 2) Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to five years for intentionally accessing a protected computer (a computer exclusively for the use of a financial institution or the U.S. government or which is used in or affects interstate or foreign commerce or communication) without authorization, or exceeding authorized access, by causing a computer program or code to be copied onto the protected computer and intentionally using that program or code in furtherance of another federal criminal offense.

Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to two years if such unauthorized access of a protected computer is for the purpose of: (1) intentionally obtaining or transmitting personal information (including a Social Security number or other government-issued identification number, a bank or credit card number, or an associated password or access code) with intent to defraud or injure a person or cause damage to a protected computer; or (2) intentionally impairing the security protection of a protected computer with the intent to defraud or injure a person or damage such computer.

Prohibits any person from bringing a civil action under state law premised upon the defendant's violating this Act. 

Exempts any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of the United States, a state, or a local law enforcement agency or of an U.S. intelligence agency from the prohibitions of this Act.

(Sec. 3) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2011 to the Attorney General for prosecutions needed to discourage the use of spyware and practices commonly called phishing and pharming. 

(Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Justice should vigorously prosecute those who use spyware to commit crimes and those that conduct phishing and pharming scams.

action_date: 2007-05-22
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 21, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2007
 - 
(Sec. 2) Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to five years for intentionally accessing a protected computer (a computer exclusively for the use of a financial institution or the U.S. government or which is used in or affects interstate or foreign commerce or communication) without authorization, or exceeding authorized access, by causing a computer program or code to be copied onto the protected computer and intentionally using that program or code in furtherance of another federal criminal offense.

Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to two years if such unauthorized access of a protected computer is for the purpose of: (1) intentionally obtaining or transmitting personal information (including a Social Security number or other government-issued identification number, a bank or credit card number, or an associated password or access code) with intent to defraud or injure a person or cause damage to a protected computer; or (2) intentionally impairing the security protection of a protected computer with the intent to defraud or injure a person or damage such computer.

Prohibits any person from bringing a civil action under state law premised upon the defendant's violating this Act. 

Exempts any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of the United States, a state, or a local law enforcement agency or of an U.S. intelligence agency from the prohibitions of this Act.

(Sec. 3) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2011 to the Attorney General for prosecutions needed to discourage the use of spyware and practices commonly called phishing and pharming. 

(Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Justice should vigorously prosecute those who use spyware to commit crimes and those that conduct phishing and pharming scams.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5548)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5548)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1525.
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5548-5551)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-05-21
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 95.
action_date: 2007-05-21
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-159.
action_date: 2007-05-21
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-159.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-05-01
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-03-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-03-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-03-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-03-14
text: Introduced in House