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S. 2145: SPY BLOCK Act

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S. 2145: SPY BLOCK Act

108th Congress · introduced 2004-02-27 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: By Senator McCain from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 108-424.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2004-02-27 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: By Senator McCain from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 108-424. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

SPY BLOCK Act

Plain summary

Software Principles Yielding Better Levels of Consumer Knowledge Act or SPY BLOCK Act - (Sec. 2) Makes it unlawful for a person who is not an authorized user of a protected computer (any computer used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication) (unauthorized person) to cause the installation on that computer of software designed to: (1) conceal from the authorized user (user) the fact that such software is being installed; or (2) prevent the user from granting or withholding consent to the installation. Provides exceptions. Makes it unlawful to provide to an authorized user materially false or misleading inducements to install such software. Prohibits the installation of software designed to prevent reasonable efforts to uninstall or disable such software after it has been installed, with an exception with respect to software designed for one authorized user, such as a parent or system administrator. (Sec. 3) Makes it unlawful for an unauthorized person to install on a protected computer software that collects information about the user's Internet browsing or other computer use and then transmits such information to another person if: (1) the information collected is not related to or in support of a normal software capability or function; and (2) there has been no reasonable notification to the authorized user of the such installation. (Sec. 4) Makes it unlawful for an unauthorized person to install on a protected computer software that causes advertisements to be displayed to the user: (1) at a time when the user is not accessing a website or online service operated by the publisher of that software; and (2) in a manner in which the user would not understand that the software is responsible for delivering the advertisements. (Sec. 5) Makes it unlawful for an unauthorized person to: (1) utilize the computer to send unsolicited information to other computers; (2) divert a user's Internet browser away from its intended site to one or more other websites; (3) display an advertisement or other content in such a manner that the user cannot end such display without turning off the computer or terminating all Internet sessions; or (4) covertly modify settings relating to the use of the computer or the computer's access to the Internet. (Sec. 6) Provides exceptions from liability under this Act with respect to providers of: (1) passive transmission, hosting, or linking; and (2) network security. (Sec. 7) Provides for administration and enforcement through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). (Sec. 8) Authorizes civil enforcement actions by States, with authorized FCC intervention. (Sec. 10) Amends the Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for accessing a protected computer to cause a computer program or code to be copied onto such computer, and then using such program or code to impair the security protection of such computer or in furtherance of another criminal offense. Provides exceptions.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

SPY BLOCK Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 2145, SPY BLOCK Act (2004-10-05); CBO cost estimate: S. 2145, SPY BLOCK Act (2004-10-05); CBO cost estimate: S. 2145, Spy Block Act (2004-10-08); CBO cost estimate: S. 2145, Spy Block Act (2004-10-08)

Cosponsors on this site

Ron Wyden (D-OR)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-s2145 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108