Attorney General's News Release

December 15, 1999

Nixon, Gaw, Smith call for Internet 2000 Crime Bill

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon joined Speaker of the House Steve Gaw and state Rep. Phil Smith today to announce a computer crime bill that will extend protection and improve privacy for Missouri consumers using the Internet in the year 2000 and into the next century. The Internet 2000 Crime Bill also will help law enforcement fight crimes brought on by the rapid advance in computer technology, including cyberstalking, child porn trafficking and identity theft.

In press conferences today in Hannibal and St. Louis, Nixon told of Internet crimes he has prosecuted and called for changes in the law to strengthen protections for Missourians using the Internet. Gaw and Smith, co-sponsors of the Internet 2000 Crime Bill, outlined the proposals to modernize Missouri law to cover Internet-related activities.

"We must take action now to modernize our laws if we are to take full advantage of the convenience and business possibilities of the Internet," Nixon said. "We must provide a system that both protects privacy and instills the confidence needed if e-commerce is to thrive and if law enforcement is in position to fight crime in this age of new technology."

"Laws that have been passed and enforced for the protection of the public should not be overlooked just because a person is using the Internet," Gaw said. "This legislation closes loopholes in the law and provides stronger protections for the growing number of consumers using the Internet."

"We must ensure that the same protections to Missourians available in the off-line world are extended to on-line transactions if e-commerce is to flourish," Smith said. "Likewise, we must establish a level playing field if traditional businesses are not to be placed at a disadvantage."

The Internet 2000 Crime Bill would:

• Protect personal information stored electronically by making it illegal to use a computer to examine financial, medical and other confidential information without authorization;
• Make Internet stalking and harassment illegal, including posting harassing messages in a chatroom or on a website, sending repeated unwanted messages and concealing one's identity when sending messages;
• Make the practice of "hacking" illegal by criminalizing tampering with computers, computer networks, computer data and computer users and making it a felony to use a computer or computer virus to cause a catastrophe;
• Fight online child pornography by making it a felony to create, advertise, distribute or transfer child pornography online and by requiring computer providers, installers and repair services to report child pornography to law enforcement;
• Protect children from pornography on the Internet by requiring publicly funded schools and libraries to use filtering software;
• Assist law enforcement in fighting cybercrime by expanding jurisdiction for computer crimes to any county in which a computer is accessed, in which a network passes through or in which the computer is located;
• Protect the privacy of Internet users by requiring websites that collect personal information to disclose how the information is used and allowing users to review and correct any wrong information;
• Fight deceptive online marketing by making commercial e-mail with misleading or deceptive information illegal.

Millions of Americans become new Internet users each year and almost half of Americans send or receive e-mail every day, Nixon said. The Attorney General noted that the Internet economy already exceeds the energy and telecommunications industries, with e-commerce generating an estimated $301 billion annually.

Nixon said that many criminals are using the Internet as a new way to get into people's homes and wallets. Consumer fraud, harassment, stalking, invasion of privacy and child pornography are just some of the crimes to which Missourians are vulnerable on the Internet, Nixon said.

Nixon's office has already been aggressive in fighting Internet crime. The office has stopped illegal sales of prescription drugs and alcohol to minors over the Internet, obtained the nation's first criminal conviction for Internet gambling and successfully prosecuted a con artist ripping off consumers through an Internet auction site. Nixon also worked with the Attorney General in Massachusetts to indict a Missouri man for threatening children and teachers in a Massachusetts middle school and passing child pornography on to students in the school.

Nixon, Gaw and Smith said it also will be necessary to assist Missouri law enforcement with the training, manpower and equipment needed to expand protection over the Internet.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818