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First Anti-Phishing Law Enacted in California

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the sure-is-annoying dept.

Steve writes "Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California, signed a bill yesterday that makes phishing a civil liability. According to MSNBC, the new law is the first of its kind in the country: "The bill, advanced by state Sen. Kevin Murray, is the first of its kind in the United States and makes 'phishing'... a civil violation. Victims may seek to recover actual damages or $500,000 for each violation, depending upon which is greater." This is an expensive penalty for phishers who are litigated against, but do the lack of criminal accountability and the burden of action on the victim hinder the effectiveness of this bill?"

3 of 137 comments (clear)

  1. Awesome! by Beatlebum · · Score: 3, Funny

    No more phishing! We should enact laws against spam too and solve that problem.

  2. $500,000 by teidou · · Score: 4, Funny

    $500,000? I'm in.

    Aw man: I just deleted about $6,000,000 worth of opportunities, er, scams last week.

    1. Re:$500,000 by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 3, Funny

      Dear sir,

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