Bill Text: VA HB707 | 2014 | Regular Session | Prefiled

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Bill Title: Digital impersonation; penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - Continued to 2015 in Courts of Justice by voice vote [HB707 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2014-HB707-Prefiled.html

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14102266D
HOUSE BILL NO. 707 Offered January 8, 2014 Prefiled January 7, 2014 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-152.15:1, relating to digital impersonation; penalty. ---------- Patron-- Gilbert ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-152.15:1 as follows:

§18.2-152.15:1. Digital impersonation; penalty.

Any person who knowingly and without authorization credibly impersonates a living individual through or on an Internet website, including blogging, email, social networking, and other online accounts, or by any other electronic means with the intent to harass, intimidate, or defraud another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this section, an impersonation is credible if a reasonable person would believe the defendant was in fact the person who was impersonated. Nothing in this section shall apply to a law-enforcement officer in the performance of his duties.