Electronic Privacy Protection Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (31 Oct 2000): Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
What this bill does
H.R. 5571, the Electronic Privacy Protection Act, would prohibit the knowing creation, sale, import, export, installation, or use of "information collection devices" on computers without proper disclosure and consent. These devices are defined as computer programs capable of collecting and transmitting identifiable computer information, excluding simple cookies. The bill would require the Federal Trade Commission to issue regulations specifying these requirements within 120 days of enactment.
Under the proposed law, individuals or entities would be required to label these devices to inform primary computer users that they can transmit identifiable information. If installing or using such a device on a computer not under their general management, they must provide notice to the primary user and obtain their consent for both installation and any subsequent data transmission. The bill also outlines civil penalties for violations, with fines set at $500 for a first offense and $1,500 for subsequent offenses, with doubled penalties if the transmission involves information about minors.
This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on October 26, 2000, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. As of the information provided, its latest action is "Introduced," indicating it has not yet been passed by either chamber of Congress or signed into law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Electronic Privacy Protection Act - Makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly: (1) make, import, export, or sell an information collection device for a computer unless it has a label disclosing to the computer's primary user or to another operator who is not a primary user that it may transmit from the computer information identifiable to it; (2) install an information collection device on a computer that is not under general management and control of such person, unless such person has given notice of such installation to the computer's primary user and obtained the user's consent to such installation; or (3) use an information collection device to transmit from a computer that is not under general management and control of such person any information identifiable to such computer to a primary user or to an operator who is not a primary user, unless such person has given notice that the device may transmit such information to the primary user and obtained the user's consent to such transmission.Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act.
Timeline
31 Oct 2000
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 5571 do?
- H.R. 5571, the Electronic Privacy Protection Act, would prohibit the knowing creation, sale, import, export, installation, or use of "information collection devices" on computers without proper disclosure and consent. These devices are defined as computer programs capable of collecting and transmitting identifiable computer information, excluding simple cookies. The bill would require the Federal Trade Commission to issue regulations specifying these requirements within 120 days of enactment. Under the proposed law, individuals or entities would be required to label these devices to inform primary computer users that they can transmit identifiable information. If installing or using such a device on a computer not under their general management, they must provide notice to the primary user and obtain their consent for both installation and any subsequent data transmission. The bill also outlines civil penalties for violations, with fines set at $500 for a first offense and $1,500 for subsequent offenses, with doubled penalties if the transmission involves information about minors. This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on October 26, 2000, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. As of the information provided, its latest action is "Introduced," indicating it has not yet been passed by either chamber of Congress or signed into law.
- Has H.R. 5571 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 5571. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 5571?
- H.R. 5571 was sponsored by Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 5571?
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection. (31 Oct 2000).
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