Controlling Invasive and Unauthorized Software Act
Latest action. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: continuing resolutionA stopgap law funding the government at existing levels when the annual appropriations bills are not done by October 1.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) S1685-1688)
Controlling Invasive and Unauthorized Software Act - Makes it unlawful for any person who is not the user of a protected computer (any computer used in interstate or foreign commerce or communication) to install, or allow the installation of, software on that computer, unless: (1) the user of the computer has received notice and granted consent that satisfies the requirements of this Act; and (2) the computer software's uninstall procedures satisfies the requirements of this Act.
Requires the notice to include: (1) a clear notification, displayed on the screen until the user either grants or denies consent to installation, of the name and nature of the software to be installed; and (2) a separate disclosure with respect to each information collection, advertising, distributed computing, and settings modification feature contained in the software. Requires the consent to include: (1) consent to the software installation; and (2) separate consent to each of the above features of such software.
Prohibits any person who is not the user of a protected computer from using any such feature of software installed on a computer if: (1) the software was installed in violation of this Act; (2) the use falls outside of the scope described in the notice; or (3) the person using a software feature fails to protect the security and integrity of personal information so collected. Provides exceptions, including for software installed before the sale of such computer.
Provides administration and enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission. Authorizes actions by States on behalf of its residents.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on February 26, 2004. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on February 26, 2004: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1685-1688)
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 108th Congress (2003-04), 498 of the 8,623 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 5.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
CONRAD BURNS (R-MT) introduced it on February 26, 2004. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on February 26, 2004, 8232 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 8232 days ago, on February 26, 2004.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 108th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2005 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIntroduced, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers