Ga. Senate Passes Bill Criminalizing ‘Unauthorized Computer Access’

On Monday, Georgia senators passed a bill that makes password disclosure or accessing a computer or computer network without permission “a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.”

Lawmakers said it closes a loophole in Georgia’s criminal statutes, but cybersecurity professionals said they worry about the impact it will have on their work if it becomes law.

At a recent public safety Senate committee hearing, staff attorney David McLaughlin from the state’s Attorney General’s office spoke about working on Senate Bill 315. He said there were a lot of questions raised after someone accessed voter records at the state’s election center housed at Kennesaw State University.