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S 1678 99th Congress Senate

Federal Computer Systems Protection Act of 1985

Official title: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect the use of Federal computer systems against fraud and abuse.

Introduced: September 20, 1985 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Computer crimesComputer programmingComputersComputers and government
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Crime preventionDestruction of propertyElectronic funds transfersEmbezzlementFinance and Financial SectorFraudScience and technologyWhite collar crime
This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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
Oct 1, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Criminal Law.
Sep 20, 1985
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Sep 20, 1985
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action October 1, 1985

Referred to Subcommittee on Criminal Law.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Computer Systems Protection Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful to knowingly obtain access or attempt to obtain access to a computer as part of a scheme to defraud or obtain money or property by false pretenses or to embezzle, steal, or convert the property of another if: (1) the computer is owned by, under contract to, or operated on behalf of the U.S. Government or a financial institution; or (2) if in committing or concealing the offense two or more computers are used which are located in different States or in a State and a foreign country.

Makes it unlawful to knowingly and willfully without authorization damage, destroy, or attempt to damage or destroy such a computer or any computer programs or data contained in such a computer.

Makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally without any authorization obtain access to such a computer.

Provides that anyone who violates any provision of this Act shall forfeit to the United States any interest in any computer and computer program which has been used to commit the violation.

Specifies that this Act does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a State or Federal law enforcement agency, or of an intelligence agency of the United States.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1678: Federal Computer Systems Protection Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1678/
MLA
"S. 1678: Federal Computer Systems Protection Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1678/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1678, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1678/.
Markdown link
[S. 1678: Federal Computer Systems Protection Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1678/)
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