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HR 4255 108th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Advertising Armed Forces and National Security Arrest Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liability Commerce Computer crimes Computer security measures Computer software Computers Congress Congressional reporting requirements Consumer education Consumer protection Cost accounting Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal justice information Criminal statistics Damages

Computer Software Privacy and Control Act

Introduced: April 30, 2004 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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
May 20, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
May 6, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Apr 30, 2004
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 30, 2004
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Computer Software Privacy and Control Act of 2004 - Makes it unlawful for any person to transmit to a protected computer owned and operated by another person, or to transmit to such computer prior to its first retail sale, any computer software, or component thereof, that: (1) collects personal information about an owner or operator and transfers the information to any person other than such owner or operator; (2) monitors or analyzes the content of the Internet web pages accessed by a computer owner or operator and transfers that information to any person other than the owner or operator; or (3) modifies default computer settings selected by the owner or operator that affect the Web page first displayed, the Internet connection settings, or the actions or operations of any Internet search service offered by a provider of such services, unless, before any of actions above, notice is provided to, and consent is received from, such owner or operator, and such software or component includes a removal utility.

Makes it unlawful for a person to transmit to a protected computer any software that includes a function to deliver or display advertisements, unless notice is provided to, and consent is received from, the owner or operator.

Provides for enforcement of such prohibitions through: (1) the Federal Trade Commission; (2) criminal proceedings; or (3) State actions on behalf of its residents.

Requires semiannual reports from the Attorney General to the congressional judiciary committees concerning actions on warrants or other orders applied for by law enforcement agencies whose implementation involved the transmission or execution of computer software on a protected computer to record computer activity or to intercept any wire, oral, or electronic communications.

What's happening now May 20, 2004

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4255: Computer Software Privacy and Control Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4255/
MLA
"H.R. 4255: Computer Software Privacy and Control Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4255/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4255, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4255/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4255: Computer Software Privacy and Control Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4255/)
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