The Obama administration is seeking changes to the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) by imposing tougher sentences on cybercriminals. However, there is heated debate over some of the updated provisions’ language. The Obama administration proposes applying the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, commonly used for prosecuting organized crime, to CFAA offenses. Proponents say this is appropriate because the current maximum prison sentences for cybercrimes don’t match recent threats’ severity and because these crimes are typically carried out by groups, some tied to international organized crime. US Senators Patrick Leahy and Al Franken have requested a better definition of how the CFAA amendments define illegal access to computers. The senators are concerned that, without revision, the law would enable the government to easily prosecute relatively harmless activities, such as checking personal e-mail accounts at work and prevent agents from focusing on investigating more substantive criminal activity. (SlashDot)(The Hill)(PC World)
