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HR 287 101th Congress House

Computer Protection Act of 1989

Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to create civil and criminal penalties for persons or entities which knowingly and maliciously alter computer hardware o… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to create civil and criminal penalties for persons or entities which knowingly and maliciously alter computer hardware or software with the objective of disabling a computer either through the loss of stored data or interference with its proper functioning.

Introduced: November 8, 1989 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Civil actions and liabilityComputer crimesSabotage
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This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 8, 1989
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 6, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice.
Jan 3, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Jan 3, 1989
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 8, 1989

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Computer Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal criminal code to impose penalties upon individuals who knowingly sabotage the proper operation of computer system hardware or software.

Permits a party who has been harmed by such violation to seek redress in a civil action.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Nov 8, 1989
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 287: Computer Protection Act of 1989. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-287/
MLA
"H.R. 287: Computer Protection Act of 1989." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-287/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 287, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-287/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 287: Computer Protection Act of 1989](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-287/)
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