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H.R. 29: Spy Act

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H.R. 29: Spy Act

109th Congress · introduced 2005-01-04 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2005-01-04 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Bono, Mary [R-CA-45] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 201 (2005): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR29 (2005-05-23), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. 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 Act

Plain summary

Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act or Spy Act - Makes it unlawful for any person who is not the owner or authorized user (user) of a protected computer (a computer exclusively for the use of a financial institution or the U.S. Government, or a computer used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication) to engage in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with specified conduct, including: (1) taking unsolicited control of the computer; (2) modifying computer settings; (3) collecting personally identifiable information; (4) inducing the owner or authorized user to disclose personally identifiable information; (5) inducing the unsolicited installation of computer software; and (6) removing or disabling a security, anti-spyware, or anti-virus technology. Makes it unlawful for a person to: (1) transmit to a protected computer any information collection program (a program that collects personally identifiable information and uses the information to send advertising), unless such program provides notice required by this Act before execution of any of the program's collection functions; or (2) execute any collection information program installed on a protected computer unless, before execution, the user has consented to such execution under notice requirements of this Act. Provides an exception with respect to Web pages visited within a particular website when the information collected is sent only to the provider of the website accessed. Provides for enforcement of violations as unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Makes this Act inapplicable with respect to: (1) law enforcement actions; (2) monitoring undertaken for network security; and (3) Good Samaritan actions (actions taken in good faith, and with the user's consent, by a computer software or service provider to remove or disable a program which violates this Act). Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report to Congress: (1) annually on enforcement actions taken under this Act; (2) regarding the use of computer tracking cookies in the delivery or display of advertising to computer owners and users; and (3) concerning information collection programs installed before the effective date of this Act. Makes this Act: (1) effective 12 months after its enactment; and (2) inapplicable after December 31, 2011.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), 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 Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Bono, Mary [R-CA-45] · 61 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 29, SPY Act (2005-03-15); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 29, SPY Act (2005-03-15)

Cosponsors on this site

Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and 1 more.

Recorded votes

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-cong109-hr29 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109