Stopping cyber scams

Malicious identity thieves on Facebook, Twitter, craigslist and other social networks and online services would face greater legal penalties under a bill passed by the House Jan. 23.

The bill makes harmful electronic impersonation a civil offense, meaning a victim can sue the impersonator. It would add another level of protection to existing privacy laws.

“We’ve had some awful stories, in fact that sometimes have led to suicides, with abuse of social networking, including deception and harassment and fraud and intimidation,” Rep. Roger Goodman of Kirkland said during floor debate on the bill.

The bill was approved 95-0 and moves to the Senate. It was originally sponsored in 2011 by then-Rep. David Frockt of Seattle, who is now a senator.

To read a newspaper article on the bill written before the House vote, click here.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.