Life Sentences Approved for Hacking Crimes by House Judiciary Panel

A House panel voted unanimously late Tuesday to expand the types of hacking crimes that would be punished by life imprisonment. Citing the possibility of terrorists wreaking havoc electronically, the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime voted 8-0 to rewrite the . . . A House panel voted unanimously late Tuesday to expand the types of hacking crimes that would be punished by life imprisonment. Citing the possibility of terrorists wreaking havoc electronically, the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime voted 8-0 to rewrite the Cyber Security Enhancement Act and forward a more Draconian version to the full committee.

"Until we secure our cyber infrastructure, a few keystrokes and an Internet connection is all one needs to disable the economy and endanger lives," said CSEA sponsor Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the subcommittee's chairman. "A mouse can be just as dangerous as a bullet or a bomb." Smith said: "Just as a physical attack can cause injury, a cyber attack can substantially harm our economy and endanger public health and safety."

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