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Congressional Hearing Held on Bono Bill to Protect Consumers from Computer "Spyware"

Date: Jan. 26, 2005
Location: Washington, DC


Congressional Hearing Held on Bono Bill to Protect Consumers from Computer "Spyware"

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Congressional hearing was held today to consider Congresswoman Mary Bono's (CA-45) bill to shield consumers from invasive and unsolicited spyware. The full Energy and Commerce Committee, on which Congresswoman Bono serves, conducted the hearing to discuss Congresswoman Bono's legislative remedy to the growing problem of spyware.

"The SPY Act is a common-sense solution to fight illegal uses of spyware and restore consumer's control over their PC's without impeding the growth of technology," said Congresswoman Bono. "I am pleased that industry is responding to the rapid growth of spyware with tools for their users, this does not circumvent the need for federal legislation to protect all computer users from unknowingly downloading spyware, as well as giving clear direction to the FTC to ensure that illegal spyware acts are aggressively punished," added Bono.

The Energy and Commerce Committee hearing titled, "Combating Spyware: H.R. 29, the Spy Act," considered testimony from Howard Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer of R&H Security Consulting, and representatives from Earthlink, Center for Democracy and Technology, Microsoft Cooperation on the issues associated with the distribution and effects of spyware.

"With the wide range of support this bill has received, I am confident that we will see swift passage of HR 29 in the House of Representatives this year," added Bono.

Congresswoman Bono introduced the SPY Act on January 4, 2005. According to Bono, the bill protects individuals from unknowingly downloading spyware by requiring that consumers receive a clear and conspicuous notice prior to downloading spyware. The bill additionally includes provisions to prohibit unfair or deceptive behavior such as key-stroke logging, computer high jacking, phishing and the display of advertisements that cannot be closed.

This legislation is currently being considered in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The SPY ACT is co-sponsored by Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX), Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-NY), as well as many others.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca45_bono/hearing_spyact109.html

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