Congresswoman to Propose Computer Crimes Amendment in Wake of Activist’s Death

Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) plans to introduce a bill to Congress that would severely curtail the “broad scope of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act,” the congresswoman announced Tuesday evening. The CFAA enabled the U.S. government to levy steep fines and a potential lengthy prison sentence against Internet activist Aaron Swartz for his alleged computer crimes, a course of action which some have claimed contributed to Swartz’s recent suicide. Swartz’s death sparked a widespread outrage among the Web community, causing many to call for reform of the Justice Department’s computer-hacking laws.