Updates on Developments in Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
Two bills have been proposed in the New York State Legislature that aim to de-anonymize online commenting.
The proposed Internet Protection Act — introduced in the identical bills S.6779 and A.8688 —would amend New York civil rights law to require a website administrator upon request to “remove any comments posted…
Continue Reading NY Legislature Introduces Bills to Curtail Anonymous Online Commenting
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) recently introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would prohibit employers from requiring current and prospective employees to disclose website usernames, passwords, and other online content. The Social Networking Online Protection Act (SNOPA), H.R. 5050, also would apply to students at colleges, universities…
Continue Reading Rep. Engel Introduces Federal Bill to Limit Access to Social Networking Accounts
A California law that took effect on January 1, 2011 makes it a crime to impersonate someone online. Any person who knowingly and without consent impersonates another actual person through electronic means for purposes of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person is guilty of a misdemeanor. “Electronic means” is defined to include opening an e-mail account or social networking profile in another person’s name. A violation of the law occurs only if the impersonation is credible, meaning that another person would reasonably believe that the defendant was the person impersonated.Continue Reading California’s Online Impersonation Law Comes Into Effect
