AB 1649 Summary

• Expands Penal Code Section 502 to criminalize unauthorized access, disruption, and damage to government and public safety infrastructure computer systems with the same penalties as existing general computer crimes.

• Adds new criminal offenses for disrupting government computer services, accessing public safety infrastructure systems (water/wastewater treatment, hospitals, emergency services, telecommunications, utilities), and introducing computer contaminants into these systems.

• Revises the crime of unauthorized use of another's Internet domain name to include "profile" and applies to both electronic mail messages and posts; broadens definition of electronic mail to include all transmitted electronic messages between devices and networks.

• Establishes tiered penalties based on damage severity and victim expenditures, ranging from $1,000 fines for first-time infractions without injury to $10,000 fines and 16 months to 3 years imprisonment for violations causing injuries or losses exceeding $5,000.

• Clarifies that exemptions apply to acts committed within the scope of lawful employment and that employees may use up to $250 in computer services without criminal penalty if no injury results.