Citation[]
California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, codified at Cal. Penal Code §502.
Overview[]
The Act affords protection to individuals, businesses, and governmental agencies from tampering, interference, damage, and unauthorized access to lawfully created computer data and computer systems. The law criminalizes nine categories of acts regarding knowingly accessing and using without permission a computer or data from a computer.
Violations of the Act are subject to criminal penalties. For violating major provisions of the Act, the punishment can be up to a $10,000 fine and a 3 year prison term. Private civil rights of action are allowed for claims brought under Section 502(c) pursuant to Section 502(e). Such actions allow for compensatory damages against any person convicted of violating the criminal provisions.