Penalty for Cyber Crimes

Cyber crime is high on the government's agenda.

With the introduction of the Computer and Telecommunication Coordinator Program in 1995, cyber crime became a government priority. With strict legislation in place, there are now serious penalties, from hefty fines to jail terms, for committing cyber crimes.

National Security

Under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, accessing a government computer without permission is a federal crime, carrying a penalty of a fine or imprisonment for a maximum of 10 years. If this computer is used to obtain information on national security, it is punishable by a fine, imprisonment for a maximum of 20 years or both.

Wiretaps

Federal law protects the privacy of "wire and oral communications." Breaches of this privacy are classed as Category D felonies, which carry a prison term of 5 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious crime that includes any identification device, from a credit card number to an online banking password. The penalties for this crime can include a fine, forfeiture of property and a maximum prison term of 15 years.

Spam

Under the 2003 CAN-SPAM Act, it is illegal to send out large amounts of unsolicited mail, either online or materially. The penalties for sending spam can vary from a fine, imprisonment for up to 5 years or both.

References

• U.S. Dept. of Justice: Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) Program
• U.S. Dept. of Justice: Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
• U.S. Dept. of Justice: Wiretap Act
• U.S. Dept. of Justice: Identity Theft and Identity Fraud
• U.S. Dept. of Justice: Other Network Crime Statutes

Resources

• U.S. Dept. of Justice: Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section