California bill would require notice before 'spyware' added to computers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Consumers would have to be told before information-reporting ``spyware'' was added to their computers if legislation approved Tuesday by the California Senate becomes

Wednesday, May 19th 2004, 9:11 am

By: News On 6

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Consumers would have to be told before information-reporting ``spyware'' was added to their computers if legislation approved Tuesday by the California Senate becomes law.

The measure by Sen. Kevin Murray, a Democrat, was sent to the Assembly by a 36-2 vote.

Murray said consumers can unknowingly add the spyware to their computer systems when they buy software.

``These programs track what Web sites you visit, may steal your passwords, access your financial information, log your keystrokes, bombard you with pop-ups, track your purchases and remotely report your activity and personal information to a third party,'' Murray said

Republican Sen. Jim Battin said the spyware problem needed to be addressed on a national level, but action by California lawmakers would be a ``good start.''