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State Spyware Laws
Last update: 10/23/20
Spyware, also sometimes called adware, is software that can track or collect the online activities or personal information of Web users, change settings on users computers, or cause advertising messages to pop up on users' computer screens. Web users are often unaware that spyware has been downloaded to their computers, and even when found, it can be very difficult to remove.
Twenty states, Guam and Puerto Rico have laws expressly targeting spyware. Other states have laws that address computer crime, fraudulent or deceptive practices or identity theft and that possibly could apply to some practices involving spyware. See also State Phishing Laws and Computer Crime Statutes.
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State
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Statutory Citation
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Alaska
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Alaska Stat. §§ 45.45.792 et seq., 45.50.471(51)
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Arizona
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Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 18.501 et seq.
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Arkansas
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Ark. Code §§ 4-111-101 to -105, § 19-6-301, § 19-6-804
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California
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Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 22947 to 22947.6
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Georgia
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Ga. Code §§ 16-9-152 et seq.
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| Hawaii |
Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 708.890, 708.891, 708.891.5, 708.891.6
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| Illinois |
720 ILCS 5/17-52, 720 ILCS 5/12-7.5(3)(a-4), ILCS 5/12-7.5(2)(2.2)
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Indiana
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Ind. Code §§ 24-4.8-1 et seq.
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Iowa
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Iowa Code §§ 715.1 to 715.8
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Louisiana
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La. Rev. Stat. §§ 51:2006 to 51:2014
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Nevada
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Nev. Rev. Stat. § 205.4737
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New Hampshire
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N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 359-H:1 to 359-H:6
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| New York |
N.Y. Penal Law § 156.00
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| Pennsylvania |
73 P.S. 2330.1 et seq.
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Rhode Island
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R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-52.2-2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7
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Texas
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Tex. Bus. & Comm. Code §§ 324.001 to 324.102
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Utah
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Utah Code §§ 13-40-301 to -303, 13-40-402
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| Virginia |
Va. Code § 18.2-152.4
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Washington
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Wash. Rev. Code §§ 19.270.101 to 19.270.900
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| Wyoming |
Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-506
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Guam
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9 GCA 46.601 to .602
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| Puerto Rico |
10 L.P.R.A. §§ 2181 et seq.
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Contact: Pam Greenberg, NCSL Denver Office, 303-364-7700 ext. 1413, pam.greenberg@ncsl.org
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