Crime

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Internet and technology related crimes are raising many new legal and policy questions for state lawmakers.

The safety of children on the Internet is a high priority for lawmakers, and a majority of states have laws that specifically target predators who solicit children online. States are also looking to deter minors from "sexting"--sending sexually-explicit nude or semi-nude photos via cell phone. In addition, preventing child pornography is a major concern, and some states are requiring computer technicians to report to law enforcement if they encounter child pornography in the process of their work.

State laws also address other computer crimes, including hacking and viruses, phishing, spyware, and cyberstalking. Spyware, software often unknowingly downloaded onto a user’s computer, collects small information about a user which can then be used to track web-browsing patterns, or worse, capture passwords and other personal data. States are cracking down on spyware, and also on “phishing” crimes, in which fraudsters collect personal data by tricking users to believe they are entering information into a credible website or email communication.

This website is organized around the following key issues related to technology crime: