House Judiciary Committee Proposes Stronger Penalties For Cyber Crime

Computer criminals would face increased penalties, and Internet users would face greater surveillance by access providers, under a bill approved Wednesday by a House of Representatives panel.. . .

Computer criminals would face increased penalties, and Internet users would face greater surveillance by access providers, under a bill approved Wednesday by a House of Representatives panel.

Spurred by worries about electronic terrorism, a dramatic increase in computer viruses and other Internet intrusions, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill that seeks to better coordinate efforts to fight cybercrime while increasing recommended sentences for those found guilty.

Under current law, punishments for cybercrimes are based on the economic damage they cause, which often results in little or no jail time. The author of the Melissa computer virus, which caused $1.2 billion in damage, was sentenced last week to 20 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The link for this article located at ZDNet is no longer available.