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Spyware Bill Passes House
Congress to try
for SPY ACT law by year's end.
Tuesday, October
05, 2004
The House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday aimed at
making spyware illegal, and the bill could be made law as soon as this week,
according to one congressman. "[I will] try to put a bill on the president's
desk so he can sign this year," says Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), chairman of the
House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Since Congress could adjourn as soon as Friday, Barton says
he will try to garner support from senators this week to move the bill, or a
similar version, through the Senate. "Stranger things have happened," Barton
says optimistically.
The bill, dubbed the SPY ACT
(Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass), outlaws computer technology
that downloads programs onto users' computers without their permission.
The bill, which passed with a whopping 399-1 vote, also
makes it illegal to hijack control of a user's computer, expose users to pop-up
ads that can't be closed, modify a user's personal settings, and download
personal information without permission.
A similar but not identical bill dealing with
spyware is also moving through the Senate. The bill, dubbed the Spy Block
Act (Software Principles Yielding Better Levels of Consumer Knowledge), passed
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on September
22.
Although Barton says he's going to try to work with the
Senate, he may hear some objections from senators who prefer their bill to the
one passed by the House. "We're planning on working to pass our bill," says
Jennifer O'Shea, a spokesperson for Spy Block bill sponsor Sen. Conrad Burns
(R-Montana). And despite Barton's apparent willingness to work with the Senate,
Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Florida), says the House would rather its version of the
bill became law.
O'Shea says currently there is no schedule for the Senate
to vote on the Spy Block bill.
Congress is scheduled to vote on another spyware bill on
October 6. Called the I-SPY (Internet Spyware Prevention) Act, the legislation
deals with criminal penalties for those who violate the proposed spyware laws.
Barton says the material from I-SPY could also be rolled up into the version
that goes to the Senate.
The Federal Trade Commission would be responsible for
enforcing the proposed spyware laws and would report to Congress once a year.
Barton notes that the laws would apply only domestically, not internationally.
However, he says he hopes the United States can set a standard for international
spyware law that would be adopted throughout the world. CCS21
Inc
Tel :82-31-813-0615 Fax :
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