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HR 5061 100th Congress House

Computer Virus Eradication Act of 1988

Official title: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for persons interfering with the operations of computers through the use of programs contain… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for persons interfering with the operations of computers through the use of programs containing hidden commands that can cause harm, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 30, 1988 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Civil actions and liabilityComputer crimesComputer softwareComputers
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Courts and Civil ProcedureCrime preventionScience and technologyWhite collar crime
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This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 21, 1988
Referred to Subcommittee on Crime.
Jul 14, 1988
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Jul 14, 1988
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 21, 1988

Referred to Subcommittee on Crime.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Computer Virus Eradication Act of 1988 - Amends the Federal criminal code to impose penalties upon individuals who knowingly: (1) insert into a computer program information or commands which will result in a loss to users of such program; or (2) provide such program to others who do not know of such insertion.

Permits an individual who has suffered a loss as a result of such a computer program to seek redress in a civil action.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 1
D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Sep 30, 1988
HOUGHTON, AMO
· Sep 16, 1988
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5061: Computer Virus Eradication Act of 1988. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-5061/
MLA
"H.R. 5061: Computer Virus Eradication Act of 1988." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-5061/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5061, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-5061/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5061: Computer Virus Eradication Act of 1988](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-5061/)
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