2014 -- S 2624 SUBSTITUTE B

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LC004278/SUB B

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - COMPUTER CRIME

     Introduced By: Senators Lombardi, DiPalma, Jabour, Conley, and Lombardo

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Attorney General)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 11-52 of the General Laws entitled "Computer Crime" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     11-52-7.1 Online Impersonation.-- (a) Definitions, as used in this section:

     (1) "Commercial social networking site" means a business, organization, or other similar

entity that operates a website and permits persons to become registered users for the purpose of

establishing personal relationships with other users through direct or real-time communication

with other users or the creation of web pages or profiles available to the public or to other users.

     (2) "Electronic mail" means an electronic mail message sent through the use of an

electronic mail program or a message board program.

     (3) "Identifying information" means information that alone, or in conjunction with other

information, identifies a person, including a person's:

     (i) Name, social security number, date of birth, or government-issued identification

number;

     (ii) Unique biometric data, including the person's fingerprint, voice print, or retina or iris

image;

     (iii) Unique electronic identification number, electronic mail address, routing code, or

financial institution account number; and

     (iv) Telecommunication identifying information or access device.

     (4) "Public official" means a person elected by the public, or elected or appointed by a

governmental body, or an appointed official in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the

state or any political subdivision thereof.

     (b) A person commits the crime of online impersonation if the person:

     (1) Uses the name or persona of another person to create a web page on or to post one or

more messages on a commercial social networking site or sends an electronic mail, instant

message, text message, or similar communication without obtaining the other person's consent

and with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten any person;

     (2) Sends an electronic mail, instant message, text message, or similar communication

that references a name, domain address, telephone number, or other item of identifying

information belonging to any person without obtaining the other person's consent with the intent

to cause a recipient of the communication to reasonably believe that the other person authorized

or transmitted the communication and with the intent to harm or defraud any person; or

     (3) Uses the name or persona of a public official to create a web page on, or to post one

or more messages on, a commercial social networking site or sends an electronic mail, instant

message, text message, or similar communication without obtaining the public official's consent

and with the intent to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority, to solicit

funds, or otherwise to act in reliance upon that pretense to the other person's detriment.

     (c) Every person convicted of an offense under this section shall be guilty of a

misdemeanor for the first offense and shall be subject to imprisonment not exceeding one year, a

fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, and an order of restitution as provided herein.

Every person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this section shall be guilty of a

felony and shall be subject to imprisonment not exceeding three (3) years, a fine of three

thousand dollars ($3,000), or both, and an order of restitution as provided herein.

     (d) Every person convicted of an offense under this section shall be subject to an order

for restitution, if appropriate, which shall be in addition to any other applicable penalty.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - COMPUTER CRIME

***

     This act would prohibit persons from using the name or persona of another person or a

public official to create a web page, post messages on a social networking site, or send electronic

communication without the person's consent and with the intent to harm or defraud. This section

also prohibits, with the intent to harm or defraud, sending electronic communication that

references a name or persona belonging to another without their consent where the recipient

would reasonably believe that the other person authorized the communication. Those in violation

in the first offense would be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to not more than one year

imprisonment, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both; and for an order of

restitution, if appropriate for the full amount of damages caused by the violation.

     Those in violation in the second and subsequent offense would be guilty of a felony and

subject to three (3) years imprisonment, a fine of three thousand dollars ($3,000) or both, and for

an order of restitution, if appropriate for the full amount of damages caused by the violation.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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