Some Laws Relating to Computing

	It is a felony to commit unauthorized access to a computer system 
of Federal interest (e.g. bank) with intent to steal or commit fraud.

	It is a felony to commit malicious damage

	It is a federal misdemeanor to traffic in passwords.

Enforced by: Secret Service or any other authorized agency.

	The ECPA specifies which electronic communications
are private and prohibits the unauthorized access and
disclosure of private communications.

	The CDA made it a felony to transmit obscene or offensive 
material over the Internet.

This was challenged by the ACLU in Federal court in Philadelphia.  The 
challenge was upheld.  The Supreme Court struck down the CDA in the Summer
of 1997.

	Signed into law in December of 1998, COPA makes it a federal
crime with penalties up to $50,000 per violation and a jail sentence of
up to 6 months to transmit material harmful to minors for commercial
purposes.  This act is being challenged in Federal Court as a
violation of the First Amendment.

Virginia Computer Crimes Act

	It is a felony to use a computer to commit fraud
	It is a felony to maliciously access a computer without 
authorization and either damage, copy, or remove files.
	It is a misdemeanor to use a computer to examine private files 
without authorization

	It is illegal to send SPAM in the state of Virginia.
Click here for a  press release.

	An infringement of property valued at least $1000 may be
prosecuted even if the violator does not profit from the crime.  
Penalties range from $100,000-$250,000. For infringements against
properties >$2,500 a jail term of up to 3 years may be imposed.  
A second offense may result in a jail term of up to 6 years.      

	Websites must get parental permission prior to gathering
personal information from kids.  The fine could be as much as
$11,000 per child that emails or posts information that identifies
the child if the parent has not given consent.  Enforced by the FTC.

Specifies web site accessibility for the disabled.  Information provided
on goverment web sites must be made as accessible as possible. For
more  click here.