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| House Passes Wilson-Backed Bill to Curb Spyware |
May 24, 2005 |
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Legislation Protects Consumers from Spy Technology
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today welcomed House passage of a bill she cosponsored to curb computer spyware abuses.
“Consumers are rightly concerned about spyware. It’s invasive, and there should be rules,” Wilson said. "This bill establishes some privacy safeguards.”
The legislation passed late Monday by a 393-4 vote. It reached the House floor after passing both the committee and subcommittee on which Wilson serves. With Wilson’s support, the bill passed the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, and then the full House Energy and Commerce Committee in early March.
Congresswoman Wilson continues to work to protect consumers and their right to have control of their personal computers. She led the fight against spam in the 108th Congress.
Known as the "Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act," or SPY ACT, the anti-spyware bill (H.R. 29) requires that consumers receive a clear and conspicuous notice before downloading spyware, to protect people from downloading it unknowingly. The bill also limits unfair and deceptive practices such as key-stroke logging, computer high-jacking and displays of advertisements that cannot be closed.
The bill additionally prohibits against a practice known as "evil twin" attacks. That is when a computer hacker creates a false wireless access point. Once unsuspecting users connect with the hacker`s signal and computer, the hacker could gather personal information such as user passwords.
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