Purpose of computer crime laws

Purpose of computer crime laws

Technological advances create new social assets and give rise to new methods of criminal activity. Consequently, advances in computer capabilities and their widespread use have led to computer crime laws. The primary purpose of a computer crime law is the protection of computer systems, their components, and the valuable results of their operations.FN3 The purpose of computer crime laws has been expressed differently in state and federal statements of intent.FN4 However, California's computer crime law contains a statement of purpose that is reflect of current legislative thinking about the purposes of the computer crime laws:FN5

It states that "it is the intent of the legislature in enacting the computer crime laws to expand the degree of protection afforded to individuals, businesses, and governmental agencies from tampering, interference, damage and unauthorized access to lawfully created computer data and computer systems. The California legislature found and declared that the proliferation of computer technology resulted in a concomitant proliferation of computer crime and other forms of unauthorized access to computers, computer systems and computer data. The California legislature further founds and declares that protection of the integrity of all types and forms of lawfully created computers, computer systems, and computer data is vital to the protection of the privacy of individuals as well as to the well-being of financial institutions, business concerns, governmental agencies and others within the state that lawfully utilize those computers, computer systems, and data.FN6