Bill Text: NJ S2845 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Increases penalty for "bombing" online meeting or teleconference under certain circumstances.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-08-25 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee [S2845 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2845-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator THOMAS H. KEAN, JR.
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Increases penalty for "bombing" online meeting or teleconference under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning computer crimes and amending P.L.1984, c.184.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.1984, c.184 (C.2C:20-23) is amended to read as follows:
2. As used in this act:
a. "Access" means to instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve data from, or otherwise make use of any resources of a computer, computer storage medium, computer system, [or] computer network, or online video conference or teleconference.
b. "Computer" means an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical or other high speed data processing device or another similar device capable of executing a computer program, including arithmetic, logic, memory, data storage or input-output operations and includes all computer equipment connected to such a device, computer system or computer network, but shall not include an automated typewriter or typesetter or a portable, hand-held calculator.
c. "Computer equipment" means any equipment or devices, including all input, output, processing, storage, software, or communications facilities, intended to interface with the computer.
d. "Computer network" means the interconnection of communication lines, including microwave or other means of electronic communications, with a computer through remote terminals, or a complex consisting of two or more interconnected computers, and shall include the Internet.
e. "Computer program" means a series of instructions or statements executable on a computer, which directs the computer system in a manner to produce a desired result.
f. "Computer software" means a set of computer programs, data, procedures, and associated documentation concerned with the operation of a computer system.
g. "Computer system" means a set of interconnected computer equipment intended to operate as a cohesive system.
h. "Data" means information, facts, concepts, or instructions contained in a computer, computer storage medium, computer system, or computer network. It shall also include, but not be limited to, any alphanumeric, hexadecimal, octal or binary code.
i. "Data base" means a collection of data.
j. "Financial instrument" includes but is not limited to a check, draft, warrant, money order, note, certificate of deposit, letter of credit, bill of exchange, credit or debit card, transaction authorization mechanism, marketable security and any computer representation of these items.
k. "Services" includes but is not limited to the use of a computer system, computer network, computer programs, data prepared for computer use and data contained within a computer system or computer network.
l. "Personal identifying information" shall have the meaning set forth in subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:21-17, and shall also include passwords and other codes that permit access to any data, data base, computer, computer storage medium, computer program, computer software, computer equipment, computer system or computer network, where access is intended to be secure, restricted or limited.
m. "Internet" means the international computer network of both federal and non-federal interoperable packet switched data networks.
n. "Alter," "damage" or "destroy" shall include, but not be limited to, any change or impairment to the integrity or availability of any data or other information, data base, computer program, computer software, computer equipment, computer, computer storage medium, computer system, or computer network by any means including introduction of a computer contaminant.
o. "User of computer services" shall include, but not be limited to, any person, business, computer, computer network, computer system, computer equipment or any other device which makes use of any resources of a computer, computer network, computer system, computer storage medium, computer equipment, data or data base.
p. "Computer contaminant" means any set of computer instructions that are designed to alter, damage, destroy, record or transmit information within a computer, computer system or computer network without the authorization of the owner of the information. They include, but are not limited to, a group of computer instructions commonly called viruses or worms, that are self-replicating or self-propagating and are designed to contaminate other computer programs or computer data, consume computer resources, alter, damage, destroy, record or transmit data or in some other fashion usurp the normal operation of the computer, computer program, computer operations, computer services or computer network.
q. "Authorization" means permission, authority or consent given by a person who possesses lawful authority to grant such permission, authority or consent to another person to access, operate, use, obtain, take, copy, alter, damage or destroy a computer, computer network, computer system, computer equipment, computer software, computer program, computer storage medium, or data. An actor has authorization if a reasonable person would believe that the act was authorized.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.39, s.1)
2. Section 4 of P.L.1984, c.184 (C.2C:20-25) is amended to read as follows:
4. A person is guilty of computer criminal activity if the person purposely or knowingly and without authorization, or in excess of authorization:
a. Accesses any data, data base, computer storage medium, computer program, computer software, computer equipment, computer, computer system or computer network;
b. Alters, damages or destroys any data, data base, computer, computer storage medium, computer program, computer software, computer system or computer network, or denies, disrupts or impairs computer services, including access to any part of the Internet, that are available to any other user of the computer services;
c. Accesses or attempts to access any data, data base, computer, computer storage medium, computer program, computer software, computer equipment, computer system or computer network for the purpose of executing a scheme to defraud, or to obtain services, property, personal identifying information, or money, from the owner of a computer or any third party;
d. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2003, c.39).
e. Obtains, takes, copies or uses any data, data base, computer program, computer software, personal identifying information, or other information stored in a computer, computer network, computer system, computer equipment or computer storage medium; or
f. Accesses and recklessly alters, damages or destroys any data, data base, computer, computer storage medium, computer program, computer software, computer equipment, computer system or computer network, including but not limited to disrupting an online video conference or teleconference.
g. A violation of subsection a. of this section is a crime of the third degree. A violation of subsection b. is a crime of the second degree. A violation of subsection c. is a crime of the third degree, except that it is a crime of the second degree if the value of the services, property, personal identifying information, or money obtained or sought to be obtained exceeds $5,000. A violation of subsection e. is a crime of the third degree, except that it is a crime of the second degree if the data, data base, computer program, computer software, or information:
(1) is or contains personal identifying information, medical diagnoses, treatments or other medical information concerning an identifiable person;
(2) is or contains governmental records or other information that is protected from disclosure by law, court order or rule of court; or
(3) has a value exceeding $5,000.
A violation of subsection f. is a crime of the fourth degree, except that it is a crime of the third degree if:
(a) the value of the damage exceeds $5,000; or
(b) the violation consists of accessing an online video conference or teleconference without authorization and posting or displaying obscene material in violation of N.J.S.2C:34-3 that is viewed by a minor under the age of 18.
A violation of any subsection of this section is a crime of the first degree if the offense results in:
(1) a substantial interruption or impairment of public communication, transportation, supply of water, gas or power, or other public service. The term "substantial interruption or impairment" shall mean such interruption or impairment that:
(a) affects 10 or more structures or habitations;
(b) lasts for two or more hours; or
(c) creates a risk of death or significant bodily injury to any person;
(2) damages or loss in excess of $250,000; or
(3) significant bodily injury to any person.
Every sentence of imprisonment for a crime of the first degree committed in violation of this section shall include a minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which term the defendant shall not be eligible for parole.
h. Every sentence imposed upon a conviction pursuant to this section shall, if the victim is a government agency, include a period of imprisonment. The period of imprisonment shall include a minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, during which term the defendant shall not be eligible for parole. The victim shall be deemed to be a government agency if a computer, computer network, computer storage medium, computer system, computer equipment, computer program, computer software, computer data or data base that is a subject of the crime is owned, operated or maintained by or on behalf of a governmental agency or unit of State or local government or a public authority. The defendant shall be strictly liable under this subsection and it shall not be a defense that the defendant did not know or intend that the victim was a government agency, or that the defendant intended that there be other victims of the crime.
A violation of any subsection of this section shall be a distinct offense from a violation of any other subsection of this section, and a conviction for a violation of any subsection of this section shall not merge with a conviction for a violation of any other subsection of this section or section 10 of P.L.1984, c.184 (C.2C:20-31), or for conspiring or attempting to violate any subsection of this section or section 10 of P.L.1984, c.184 (C.2C:20-31), and a separate sentence shall be imposed for each such conviction.
When a violation of any subsection of this section involves an offense committed against a person under 18 years of age, the violation shall constitute an aggravating circumstance to be considered by the court when determining the appropriate sentence to be imposed.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.39, s.3)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would amend the current law concerning computer theft to specifically address the "bombing" of online video conferences or teleconferences.
Under current law, a person is guilty of computer criminal activity if, among other provisions, the person purposely or knowingly and without authorization, or in excess of authorization, accesses and recklessly alters, damages or destroys any data, data base, computer, computer storage medium, computer program, computer software, computer equipment, computer system or computer network. This bill amends the statute to include unauthorized access to, and disruption of, an online video conference or teleconference.
Currently, it is a crime of the fourth degree to violate this provision of law, except that it is a crime of the third degree if the value of the damage exceeds $5,000. Under the bill, it would also be a crime of the third degree if the violation consists of accessing an online video conference or teleconference without authorization and posting or displaying obscene material in violation of N.J.S.2C:34-3 that is viewed by a minor under the age of 18.
A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine up to $10,000, or both; a crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of three to five years or a fine up to $15,000, or both.
