Report: Original CA Anti-Pretexting Bill Halted by MPAA

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

Just prior to the big dust-up over the HP scandal over using pretexting to try to find the source of a media leak, California introduced a bill, SB1666, which would have barred investigators from using the practice. It sailed through three committees and a State Senate vote. Then the MPAA shut it down.

The bill, SB1666, was written by state Sen. Debra Bowen, and would have barred investigators from making “false, fictitious or fraudulent” statements or representations to obtain private information about an individual, including telephone calling records, Social Security numbers and financial information. Victims would have had the right to sue for damages.

“The MPAA told some members the bill would interfere with piracy investigations,” the aide said. The association “doesn’t want to hamstring investigators.” Source: Wired News

We Say: Piracy? Urg. After the pretexting scandal hit the national news, California passed a much narrower bill, which only addresses gaining access to phone records. It’s clear the prior bill was much more protective of privacy rights. And people wonder why I say privacy is a thing of the past now.