NY State Senate Bill 2013-S2497B

Senate Bill S2497B

2013-2014 Legislative Session

Provides that a business entity may not alter caller identification information with the intent to defraud or harass a third party or the recipient of the call

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Consumer Protection Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2014	referred to consumer protection
May 28, 2013	print number 2497b
May 28, 2013	amend and recommit to consumer protection
Feb 21, 2013	print number 2497a
Feb 21, 2013	amend and recommit to consumer protection
Jan 18, 2013	referred to consumer protection

Bill Amendments

Original

B (Active)

2013-S2497 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Consumer Protection
Law Section:: General Business Law
Laws Affected:: Add §399-ppp, Gen Bus L; amd §8303, CPLR
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S7713
2011-2012: S2909
2015-2016: S434
2017-2018: S1982

2013-S2497 - Summary

Provides that a business entity may not provide false caller identification with the intent to defraud or harass any party; provides definition of business entity.

2013-S2497 - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S2497

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the general business law and the civil
practice law and rules, in relation to prohibiting business entities
from transmitting false caller identification information with the
intent to defraud or harass any person

PURPOSE:  This legislation would ban business entities from
"spoofing." Spoofing is the transmission of false caller
identification information with the intent.to defraud or harass any
person.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the general business law by adding a new section
399-ppp. Subdivision I of section 399-ppp provides that it shall be
unlawful for any business entity, in connection with any
telecommunications service or VoIP service, to cause any caller
identification service to transmit false caller identification
information when making a call to any person within the state with the
intent to defraud or harass. Subdivision 2 of section 399-ppp provides
definitions of "business identity," "caller identification
information," "caller identification service," and "VoIP service."
Subdivision 3 of section 399-ppp provides that whenever there is a
violation of this section, the attorney general may make an
application to a court or justice having jurisdiction to issue an

injunction, and upon notice to the defendant, to immediately enjoin
and restrain the continuance of such violations. No proof is required
that any person has, in fact, been injured or damaged by such
violation. The court may also make allowances to the attorney general
as provided in paragraph six of subdivision (a) of section 8303 of the
civil practice law and rules. In addition to any such allowances, the
court may direct restitution to any victim upon a showing of damages
by a preponderance of the evidence. A court may also impose a civil
penalty of up to $2,000 per call, with an aggregate amount of up to
$100,000 for all calls placed in violation of this section within any
continuous seventy-two hour period. Subdivision 4 of section 399-ppp
provides that in addition to the right of action granted to the
attorney general under this section, any person whose caller
identification information was used in connection with a violation of
this section or who has received a telephone call in violation of this
section may bring an action in his or her own name to enjoin such
unlawful act. In addition, any such person may bring an action to
recover the greater of: (a) his or her actual damages; or (b) an
amount of up to $500 per call, up to an aggregate amount of no more
than $25,000, for all calls placed in violation of this section within
any continuous severity-two hour period; or both such actions. The
court may award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff.
Subdivision 5 of Section 399-ppp provides that the provisions of this
section shall not apply to any member of a law enforcement unit acting
within the scope of his or her assigned duties or to a court order
that specifically authorizes the use of caller identification
manipulation.

Section two amends paragraph 6 of subdivision (a) of section 8303 of
the civil practice law and rules, as amended by chapter 530 of the


laws of 2002, by adding an action brought by the attorney general
under section 399-ppp to the list of proceedings subject to allowances
that may be paid to the attorney general. The sum of such allowance
shall not exceed S2,000 against each defendant.

Section three provides the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:  Spoofing occurs when a person intentionally alters
caller identification information to mask the true identity of the
caller.  The minimum effect is that the end user is deceived - the
person making the call is not the person identified on the screen -
and the person identified on the screen is "spoofed." This means that
the person being spoofed has had caller identification information
-his identity, in essence - intentionally misappropriated by the
caller to achieve an end. In the case of a telemarketing firm doing
the spoofing, the intent may be to get the end user to pick up the
phone, because the call seems to be a personal call rather than a call
from a telemarketer.

No matter what the facts are, the essence of the conduct is that a
person's caller identification information is stolen and then used so
that end users are deceived or harassed. The person who was spoofed
may suffer the following damages: a significant invasion of his or her
privacy; damage to his or her reputation, depending on the content of
the message attached to his caller identification information; the
publishing of a previously unpublished phone number; being associated
with a telephone effort that is viewed as one that harasses people;
and becoming the recipient of angry phone calls at any hour of the day
from people who have received calls that seemingly were placed by the
person being spoofed, but were actually placed by someone else.

This legislation seeks to end this indefensible practice by making
spoofing a violation of the general business law, and authorizing the
attorney general and private parties to seek both injunctive and
monetary relief.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2012, A.52-A (Paulin) passed assembly, 2012,
S.2909-B (Zeldin) referred to the committee on finance. 2011, A.52-A
(Paulin) passed assembly. 2011 S.2909-B (Zeldin) referred to committee
on consumer protection. 2010, A.9390-B passed assembly. 2010, S.7713
(Johnson C.  referred to committee on consumer protection, 2009,
A.4360 (Bradley) referred to the committee on rules. 2009, S.2753
(Johnson, C.) passed senate.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act will take effect on the sixtieth day after
it shall have become a law.

2013-S2497 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  2497

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 18, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection

AN ACT to amend the general business law and the civil practice law  and
  rules,  in relation to prohibiting business entities from transmitting
  false caller identification information with the intent to defraud  or
  harass any person

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
399-ppp to read as follows:
  S 399-PPP. PROHIBITION ON PROVISION OF DECEPTIVE CALLER IDENTIFICATION
INFORMATION. 1. IT  SHALL  BE  UNLAWFUL  FOR  ANY  BUSINESS  ENTITY,  IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE OR VOIP SERVICE, TO CAUSE
ANY  CALLER  IDENTIFICATION SERVICE TO TRANSMIT FALSE CALLER IDENTIFICA-
TION INFORMATION, WITH THE INTENT TO DEFRAUD OR HARASS,  WHEN  MAKING  A
CALL TO ANY PERSON WITHIN THE STATE.
  2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
  (A)  "BUSINESS  ENTITY" MEANS A CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP,
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP OR OTHER  LEGAL
ENTITY.
  (B)  "CALLER IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION" MEANS INFORMATION PROVIDED TO
AN END USER BY A CALLER IDENTIFICATION SERVICE REGARDING  THE  TELEPHONE
NUMBER  OF,  OR  OTHER  INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGINATION OF, A CALL
MADE USING A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE OR VOIP SERVICE.
  (C) "CALLER  IDENTIFICATION  SERVICE"  MEANS  ANY  SERVICE  OR  DEVICE
DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE USER OF THE SERVICE OR DEVICE WITH THE TELEPHONE
NUMBER  OF,  OR  OTHER  INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGINATION OF, A CALL
MADE USING A TELECOMMUNICATIONS  SERVICE  OR  VOIP  SERVICE.  SUCH  TERM
INCLUDES AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION SERVICES.
  (D) "VOIP SERVICE" MEANS A SERVICE THAT:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04476-01-3

S. 2497                             2

  (I)  PROVIDES  REAL-TIME  VOICE COMMUNICATIONS TRANSMITTED THROUGH END
USER EQUIPMENT USING TCP/IP PROTOCOL, OR A SUCCESSOR PROTOCOL, FOR A FEE
OR WITHOUT A FEE; AND
  (II)  IS  OFFERED  TO  THE  PUBLIC,  OR SUCH CLASSES OF USERS AS TO BE
EFFECTIVELY AVAILABLE TO  THE  PUBLIC  (WHETHER  PART  OF  A  BUNDLE  OF
SERVICES OR SEPARATELY); AND
  (III) HAS THE CAPABILITY TO ORIGINATE TRAFFIC TO, OR TERMINATE TRAFFIC
FROM, THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK.
  3. WHENEVER THERE SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, AN APPLICATION
MAY  BE  MADE  BY  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK TO A COURT OR JUSTICE HAVING JURISDICTION TO ISSUE  AN
INJUNCTION,  AND UPON NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT, TO IMMEDIATELY ENJOIN AND
RESTRAIN THE CONTINUANCE OF SUCH VIOLATIONS; AND IF IT SHALL  APPEAR  TO
THE  SATISFACTION  OF  THE  COURT  OR JUSTICE, BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE
EVIDENCE, THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS, IN  FACT,  VIOLATED  THIS  SECTION  AN
INJUNCTION  MAY  BE  ISSUED  BY  SUCH  COURT  OR  JUSTICE  ENJOINING AND
RESTRAINING ANY FURTHER VIOLATION,  WITHOUT  REQUIRING  PROOF  THAT  ANY
PERSON HAS, IN FACT, BEEN INJURED OR DAMAGED THEREBY. THE COURT MAY MAKE
ALLOWANCES  TO  THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL  AS  PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH SIX OF
SUBDIVISION (A) OF SECTION EIGHTY-THREE HUNDRED THREE OF THE CIVIL PRAC-
TICE LAW AND RULES. IN ADDITION TO ANY SUCH ALLOWANCES,  THE  COURT  MAY
DIRECT  RESTITUTION TO ANY VICTIM UPON A SHOWING OF DAMAGES BY A PREPON-
DERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE.  IN ADDITION TO ANY SUCH RESTITUTION,  WHENEVER
THE COURT SHALL DETERMINE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION HAS OCCURRED,
THE  COURT  MAY  IMPOSE  A  CIVIL  PENALTY OF NOT MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND
DOLLARS PER CALL, UP TO A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF NOT  MORE  THAN  ONE
HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS,  FOR  ALL  CALLS PLACED IN VIOLATION OF THIS
SECTION WITHIN A CONTINUOUS SEVENTY-TWO HOUR PERIOD. IN CONNECTION  WITH
ANY  SUCH  PROPOSED  APPLICATION,  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AUTHORIZED TO
TAKE PROOF AND MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THE RELEVANT FACTS AND  TO  ISSUE
SUBPOENAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES.
  4.  IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT OF ACTION GRANTED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, ANY PERSON WHOSE CALLER IDENTIFICATION  INFOR-
MATION  WAS  USED  IN CONNECTION WITH A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION OR WHO
HAS RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY BRING  AN
ACTION  IN  HIS OR HER OWN NAME TO ENJOIN SUCH UNLAWFUL ACT OR PRACTICE,
AN ACTION TO RECOVER THE GREATER OF (A) HIS OR HER  ACTUAL  DAMAGES,  OR
(B)  AN  AMOUNT EQUAL TO NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER CALL, UP
TO A TOTAL AGGREGATE  AMOUNT  OF  NOT  MORE  THAN  TWENTY-FIVE  THOUSAND
DOLLARS  FOR  ALL  CALLS  PLACED  IN  VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION WITHIN A
CONTINUOUS SEVENTY-TWO HOUR PERIOD; OR BOTH SUCH ACTIONS.  THE COURT MAY
AWARD REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES TO A PREVAILING PLAINTIFF.
  5. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY MEMBER  OF  A
LAW  ENFORCEMENT  UNIT  ACTING  WITHIN  THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER ASSIGNED
DUTIES OR TO A COURT ORDER THAT SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZES THE USE OF CALL-
ER IDENTIFICATION MANIPULATION.
  S 2. Paragraph 6 of subdivision (a) of section 8303 of the civil prac-
tice law and rules, as amended by chapter 530 of the laws  of  2002,  is
amended to read as follows:
  6. to the plaintiffs in an action or proceeding brought by the [attor-
ney-general] ATTORNEY GENERAL under [articles] ARTICLE twenty-two, twen-
ty-two-A,  twenty-three-A or thirty-three or section three hundred nine-
ty-one-b, THREE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE-PPP, or five hundred twenty-a of the
general business law, or under subdivision twelve of section sixty-three
of the executive law, or under article  twenty-three  of  the  arts  and
cultural  affairs  law,  or  in  an  action or proceeding brought by the

S. 2497                             3

[attorney-general]  ATTORNEY  GENERAL  under  applicable   statutes   to
dissolve  a  corporation or for usurpation of public office, or unlawful
exercise of franchise or of corporate right, a  sum  not  exceeding  two
thousand dollars against each defendant.
  S  3.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law.

2013-S2497A - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Consumer Protection
Law Section:: General Business Law
Laws Affected:: Add §399-ppp, Gen Bus L; amd §8303, CPLR
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S7713
2011-2012: S2909
2015-2016: S434
2017-2018: S1982

2013-S2497A - Summary

Provides that a business entity may not provide false caller identification with the intent to defraud or harass any party; provides definition of business entity.

2013-S2497A - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S2497A

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the general business law and the civil
practice law and rules, in relation to prohibiting business entities
from transmitting false caller identification information with the
intent to defraud or harass any person

PURPOSE:

This legislation would ban business entities from "spoofing." Spoofing
is the transmission of false caller identification information with
the intent to defraud or harass any person.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the general business law by adding a new section
399-ppp. Subdivision 1 of section 399-ppp provides that it shall be
unlawful for any business entity, in connection with any
telecommunications service or VoIP service, to cause any caller
identification service to transmit false caller identification
information when making a call to any person within the state with the
intent to defraud or harass. Subdivision 2 of section 399-ppp provides
definitions of "business identity," "caller identification
information," "caller identification service," and "VoIP service."
Subdivision 3 of section 399-ppp provides that whenever there is a
violation of this section, the attorney general may make an

application to a court or justice having jurisdiction to issue an
injunction, and upon notice to the defendant, to immediately enjoin
and restrain the continuance of such violations. No proof is required
that any person has, in fact, been injured or damaged by such
violation. The court may also make allowances to the attorney general
as provided in paragraph six of subdivision (a) of section 8303 of the
civil practice law and rules. In addition to any such allowances, the
court may direct restitution to any victim upon a showing of damages
by a preponderance of the evidence. A court may also impose a civil
penalty of up to $2,000 per call, with an aggregate amount of up to
$100,000 for all calls placed in violation of this section within any
continuous seventy-two hour period. Subdivision 4 of section 399-ppp
provides that in addition to the right of action granted to the
attorney general under this section, any person whose caller
identification information was used in connection with a violation of
this section or who has received a telephone call in violation of this
section may bring an action in his or her own name to enjoin such
unlawful act. In addition, any such person may bring an action to
recover the greater of: (a) his or her actual damages; or (b) an
amount of up to $500 per call, up to an aggregate amount of no more
than $25,000, for all calls placed in violation of this section within
any continuous severity-two hour period; or both such actions. The
court may award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff.
Subdivision 5 of Section 399-ppp provides that the provisions of this
section shall not apply to any member of a law enforcement unit acting
within the scope of his or her assigned duties or to a court order
that specifically authorizes the use of caller identification
manipulation.

Section two amends paragraph 6 of subdivision (a) of section 8303 of
the civil practice law and rules, as amended by chapter 530 of the


laws of 2002, by adding an action brought by the attorney general
under section 399-ppp to the list of proceedings subject to allowances
that may be paid to the attorney general. The sum of such allowance
shall not exceed $2,000 against each defendant.

Section three provides the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Spoofing occurs when a person intentionally alters caller
identification information to mask the true identity of the caller.
The minimum effect is that the end user is deceived - the person
making the call is not the person identified on the screen - and the
person identified on the screen is "spoofed." This means that the
person being spoofed has had caller identification information -his
identity, in essence - intentionally misappropriated by the caller to
achieve an end. In the case of a telemarketing film doing the
spoofing, the intent may be to get the end user to pick up the phone,
because the call seems to be a personal call rather than a call from a
telemarketer.

No matter what the facts are, the essence of the conduct is that a
person's caller identification information is stolen and then used so
that end users are deceived or harassed. The person who was spoofed
may suffer the following damages: a significant invasion of his or her
privacy; damage to his or her reputation, depending on the content of
the message attached to his caller identification information; the
publishing of a previously unpublished phone number; being associated
with a telephone effort that is viewed as one that harasses people;
and becoming the recipient of angry phone calls at any hour of the day
from people who have received calls that seemingly were placed by the
person being spoofed, but were actually placed by someone else.

This legislation seeks to end this indefensible practice by making
spoofing a violation of the general business law, and authorizing the
attorney general and private parties to seek both injunctive and
monetary relief.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2012, A.52-A (Paulin) passed assembly, 2012, S.2909-B (Zeldin)
referred to the committee on finance. 2011, A.52-A (Paulin) passed
assembly. 2011 S.2909-B (Zeldin) referred to committee on consumer
protection. 2010, A.9390-B passed assembly. 2010, 8.7713 (Johnson C.
referred to committee on consumer protection, 2009, A.4360 (Bradley)
referred to the committee on rules. 2009, 8.2753 (Johnson, C.) passed
senate.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act will take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2013-S2497A - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 2497--A

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 18, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Consumer  Protection  --
  committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
  recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the general business law and the civil practice law  and
  rules,  in relation to prohibiting business entities from transmitting
  false caller identification information with the intent to defraud  or
  harass any person

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
399-ppp to read as follows:
  S 399-PPP. PROHIBITION ON PROVISION OF DECEPTIVE CALLER IDENTIFICATION
INFORMATION. 1. IT  SHALL  BE  UNLAWFUL  FOR  ANY  BUSINESS  ENTITY,  IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE OR VOIP SERVICE, TO CAUSE
ANY  CALLER  IDENTIFICATION SERVICE TO TRANSMIT FALSE CALLER IDENTIFICA-
TION INFORMATION, WITH THE INTENT TO DEFRAUD OR HARASS,  WHEN  MAKING  A
CALL TO ANY PERSON WITHIN THE STATE.
  2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
  (A)  "BUSINESS  ENTITY" MEANS A CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP,
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP OR OTHER  LEGAL
ENTITY.
  (B)  "CALLER IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION" MEANS INFORMATION PROVIDED TO
AN END USER BY A CALLER IDENTIFICATION SERVICE REGARDING  THE  TELEPHONE
NUMBER  OF,  OR  OTHER  INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGINATION OF, A CALL
MADE USING A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE OR VOIP SERVICE.
  (C) "CALLER  IDENTIFICATION  SERVICE"  MEANS  ANY  SERVICE  OR  DEVICE
DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE USER OF THE SERVICE OR DEVICE WITH THE TELEPHONE
NUMBER  OF,  OR  OTHER  INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGINATION OF, A CALL
MADE USING A TELECOMMUNICATIONS  SERVICE  OR  VOIP  SERVICE.  SUCH  TERM
INCLUDES AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION SERVICES.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04476-02-3

S. 2497--A                          2

  (D)  "VOIP SERVICE" MEANS ANY SERVICE THAT: ENABLES REAL TIME, TWO-WAY
VOICE COMMUNICATION  ORIGINATING  FROM  OR  TERMINATING  AT  THE  USER'S
LOCATION IN INTERNET PROTOCOL OR A SUCCESSOR PROTOCOL; UTILIZES A BROAD-
BAND  CONNECTION AT THE USER'S LOCATION; AND PERMITS A USER TO RECEIVE A
CALL  THAT  ORIGINATES  ON  THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK AND TO
TERMINATE A CALL TO THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK.
  3. WHENEVER THERE SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, AN APPLICATION
MAY BE MADE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE NAME OF  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE
STATE  OF NEW YORK TO A COURT OR JUSTICE HAVING JURISDICTION TO ISSUE AN
INJUNCTION, AND UPON NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT, TO IMMEDIATELY ENJOIN  AND
RESTRAIN  THE  CONTINUANCE OF SUCH VIOLATIONS; AND IF IT SHALL APPEAR TO
THE SATISFACTION OF THE COURT OR JUSTICE,  BY  A  PREPONDERANCE  OF  THE
EVIDENCE,  THAT  THE  DEFENDANT  HAS,  IN FACT, VIOLATED THIS SECTION AN
INJUNCTION MAY  BE  ISSUED  BY  SUCH  COURT  OR  JUSTICE  ENJOINING  AND
RESTRAINING  ANY  FURTHER  VIOLATION,  WITHOUT  REQUIRING PROOF THAT ANY
PERSON HAS, IN FACT, BEEN INJURED OR DAMAGED THEREBY. THE COURT MAY MAKE
ALLOWANCES TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL  AS  PROVIDED  IN  PARAGRAPH  SIX  OF
SUBDIVISION (A) OF SECTION EIGHTY-THREE HUNDRED THREE OF THE CIVIL PRAC-
TICE  LAW  AND  RULES. IN ADDITION TO ANY SUCH ALLOWANCES, THE COURT MAY
DIRECT RESTITUTION TO ANY VICTIM UPON A SHOWING OF DAMAGES BY A  PREPON-
DERANCE  OF THE EVIDENCE.  IN ADDITION TO ANY SUCH RESTITUTION, WHENEVER
THE COURT SHALL DETERMINE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION HAS OCCURRED,
THE COURT MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY  OF  NOT  MORE  THAN  TWO  THOUSAND
DOLLARS  PER  CALL,  UP TO A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF NOT MORE THAN ONE
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, FOR ALL CALLS  PLACED  IN  VIOLATION  OF  THIS
SECTION  WITHIN A CONTINUOUS SEVENTY-TWO HOUR PERIOD. IN CONNECTION WITH
ANY SUCH PROPOSED APPLICATION, THE ATTORNEY  GENERAL  IS  AUTHORIZED  TO
TAKE  PROOF  AND MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THE RELEVANT FACTS AND TO ISSUE
SUBPOENAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES.
  4. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT OF ACTION GRANTED TO THE ATTORNEY  GENERAL
PURSUANT  TO THIS SECTION, ANY PERSON WHOSE CALLER IDENTIFICATION INFOR-
MATION WAS USED IN CONNECTION WITH A VIOLATION OF THIS  SECTION  OR  WHO
HAS  RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY BRING AN
ACTION IN HIS OR HER OWN NAME TO ENJOIN SUCH UNLAWFUL ACT  OR  PRACTICE,
AN  ACTION  TO  RECOVER THE GREATER OF (A) HIS OR HER ACTUAL DAMAGES, OR
(B) AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER  CALL,  UP
TO  A  TOTAL  AGGREGATE  AMOUNT  OF  NOT  MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR ALL CALLS PLACED IN  VIOLATION  OF  THIS  SECTION  WITHIN  A
CONTINUOUS SEVENTY-TWO HOUR PERIOD; OR BOTH SUCH ACTIONS.  THE COURT MAY
AWARD REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES TO A PREVAILING PLAINTIFF.
  5.  SUBDIVISIONS THREE AND FOUR OF THIS SECTION DO NOT CREATE, AND ARE
NOT INTENDED TO CREATE, ANY RIGHT OF ACTION AGAINST A TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICE PROVIDER OR VOIP SERVICE PROVIDER WHOSE SERVICE, INCLUDING CALL-
ER IDENTIFICATION SERVICE, IS USED BY A BUSINESS ENTITY TO  TRANSMIT  OR
DISPLAY  FALSE  CALLER  IDENTIFICATION  INFORMATION IN VIOLATION OF THIS
SECTION.
  6. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY MEMBER  OF  A
LAW  ENFORCEMENT  UNIT  ACTING  WITHIN  THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER ASSIGNED
DUTIES OR TO A COURT ORDER THAT SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZES THE USE OF CALL-
ER IDENTIFICATION MANIPULATION.
  S 2. Paragraph 6 of subdivision (a) of section 8303 of the civil prac-
tice law and rules, as amended by chapter 530 of the laws  of  2002,  is
amended to read as follows:
  6. to the plaintiffs in an action or proceeding brought by the [attor-
ney-general] ATTORNEY GENERAL under [articles] ARTICLE twenty-two, twen-
ty-two-A,  twenty-three-A or thirty-three or section three hundred nine-

S. 2497--A                          3

ty-one-b, THREE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE-PPP, or five hundred twenty-a of the
general business law, or under subdivision twelve of section sixty-three
of the executive law, or under article  twenty-three  of  the  arts  and
cultural  affairs  law,  or  in  an  action or proceeding brought by the
[attorney-general]  ATTORNEY  GENERAL  under  applicable   statutes   to
dissolve  a  corporation or for usurpation of public office, or unlawful
exercise of franchise or of corporate right, a  sum  not  exceeding  two
thousand dollars against each defendant.
  S  3.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law.

2013-S2497B (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Consumer Protection
Law Section:: General Business Law
Laws Affected:: Add §399-ppp, Gen Bus L; amd §8303, CPLR
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S7713
2011-2012: S2909
2015-2016: S434
2017-2018: S1982

2013-S2497B (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides that a business entity may not provide false caller identification with the intent to defraud or harass any party; provides definition of business entity.

2013-S2497B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S2497B

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the general business law and the civil
practice law and rules, in relation to prohibiting business entities
from transmitting false caller identification information with the
intent to defraud or harass any person

PURPOSE:  This legislation would ban business entities from
"spoofing." Spoofing is the transmission of false caller
identification information with the intent to defraud or harass any
person.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the general business law by adding a new section
399-ppp. Subdivision 1 of section 399-ppp provides that it shall be
unlawful for any business entity, in connection with any
telecommunications service or VoIP service, to cause any caller
identification service to transmit false caller identification
information when making a call to any person within the state with the
intent to defraud or harass. Subdivision 2 of section 399-ppp provides
definitions of "business identity," "caller identification
information," "caller identification service," and "VoIP service."
Subdivision 3- of section 399-ppp provides that whenever there is a
violation of this section, the attorney general may make an
application to a court or justice having jurisdiction to issue an

injunction, and upon notice to the defendant, to immediately enjoin
and restrain the continuance of such violations. No proof is required
that any person has, in fact, been injured or damaged by such
violation. The court may also make allowances to the attorney general
as provided in paragraph six of subdivision (a) of section 8303 of the
civil practice law and rules. In addition to any such allowances, the
court may direct restitution to any victim upon a showing of damages
by a preponderance of the evidence. A court may also impose a civil
penalty of up to $2,000 per call, with an aggregate amount of up to
$100,000 for all calls placed in violation of this section within any
continuous seventy-two hour period. Subdivision 4 of section 399-ppp
provides that in addition to the right of action granted to the
attorney general under this section, any person whose caller
identification information was used in connection with a violation of
this section or who has received a telephone call in violation of this
section may bring an action in his or her own name to enjoin such
unlawful act. In addition, any such person may bring an action to
recover the greater of: (a) his or her actual damages; or (b) an
amount of up to $500 per call, up to an aggregate amount of no more
than $25,000, for all calls placed in violation of this section within
any continuous severity-two hour period; or both such actions. The
court may award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff.
Subdivision 5 of Section 399-ppp provides that the provisions of this
section shall not apply to any member of a law enforcement unit acting
within the scope of his or her assigned duties or to a court order
that specifically authorizes the use of caller identification
manipulation.

Section two amends paragraph 6 of subdivision (a) of section 8303 of
the civil practice law and rules, as amended by chapter 530 of the
laws of 2002, by adding an action brought by the attorney general


under section 399-ppp to the list of proceedings subject to allowances
that may be paid to the attorney general. The sum of such allowance
shall not exceed $2,000 against each defendant.

Section three provides the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:  Spoofing occurs when a person intentionally alters
caller identification information to mask the true identity of the
caller.  The minimum effect is that the end user is deceived - the
person making the call is not the person identified on the screen -
and the person identified on the screen is "spoofed." This means that
the person being spoofed has had caller identification information
-his identity, in essence - intentionally misappropriated by the
caller to achieve an end. In the case of a telemarketing firm doing
the spoofing, the intent may be to get the end user to pick up the
phone, because the call seems to be a personal call rather than a call
from a telemarketer.

No matter what the facts are, the essence of the conduct is that a
person's caller identification information is stolen and then used so
that end users are deceived or harassed. The person who was spoofed
may suffer the following damages: a significant invasion of his or her
privacy; damage to his or her reputation, depending on the content of
the message attached to his caller identification information; the
publishing of a previously unpublished phone number; being associated
with a telephone effort that is viewed as one that harasses people;
and becoming the recipient of angry phone calls at any hour of the day
from people who have received calls that seemingly were placed by the
person being spoofed, but were actually placed by someone else.

This legislation seeks to end this indefensible practice by making
spoofing a violation of the general business law, and authorizing the
attorney general and private parties to seek both injunctive and
monetary relief.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2012, A.52-A (Paulin) passed assembly, 2012,
S.2909-B (Zeldin) referred to the committee on finance. 2011, A.52-A
(Paulin) passed assembly. 2011 S.2909-B (Zeldin) referred to committee
on consumer protection. 2010, A.9390-B passed assembly. 2010, S.7713
(Johnson C.  referred to committee on consumer protection, 2009,
A.4360 (Bradley) referred to the committee on rules. 2009, S.2753
(Johnson, C.) passed senate.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act will take effect on the sixtieth day after
it shall have become a law.

2013-S2497B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 2497--B

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 18, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Consumer  Protection  --
  committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
  recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged,  bill  amended,
  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN  ACT to amend the general business law and the civil practice law and
  rules, in relation to prohibiting business entities from  transmitting
  false  caller identification information with the intent to defraud or
  harass any person

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
399-ppp to read as follows:
  S 399-PPP. PROHIBITION ON PROVISION OF DECEPTIVE CALLER IDENTIFICATION
INFORMATION.  1.  IT  SHALL  BE  UNLAWFUL  FOR  ANY  BUSINESS ENTITY, IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE OR VOIP SERVICE, TO CAUSE
ANY CALLER IDENTIFICATION SERVICE TO TRANSMIT FALSE  CALLER  IDENTIFICA-
TION  INFORMATION,  WITH  THE INTENT TO DEFRAUD OR HARASS, WHEN MAKING A
CALL TO ANY PERSON WITHIN THE STATE.
  2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
  (A) "BUSINESS ENTITY" MEANS A CORPORATION,  ASSOCIATION,  PARTNERSHIP,
LIMITED  LIABILITY COMPANY, LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP OR OTHER LEGAL
ENTITY.
  (B) "CALLER IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION" MEANS INFORMATION PROVIDED  TO
AN  END  USER BY A CALLER IDENTIFICATION SERVICE REGARDING THE TELEPHONE
NUMBER OF, OR OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE  ORIGINATION  OF,  A  CALL
MADE USING A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE OR VOIP SERVICE.
  (C)  "CALLER  IDENTIFICATION  SERVICE"  MEANS  ANY  SERVICE  OR DEVICE
DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE USER OF THE SERVICE OR DEVICE WITH THE TELEPHONE
NUMBER OF, OR OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE  ORIGINATION  OF,  A  CALL
MADE  USING  A  TELECOMMUNICATIONS  SERVICE  OR  VOIP SERVICE. SUCH TERM
INCLUDES AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION SERVICES.
  (D) "VOIP SERVICE" MEANS ANY SERVICE THAT: ENABLES REAL TIME,  TWO-WAY
VOICE  COMMUNICATION  ORIGINATING  FROM  OR  TERMINATING  AT  THE USER'S

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04476-04-3

S. 2497--B                          2

LOCATION IN INTERNET PROTOCOL OR A SUCCESSOR PROTOCOL; UTILIZES A BROAD-
BAND CONNECTION AT THE USER'S LOCATION; AND PERMITS A USER TO RECEIVE  A
CALL  THAT  ORIGINATES  ON  THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK AND TO
TERMINATE A CALL TO THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK.
  3. WHENEVER THERE SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, AN APPLICATION
MAY  BE  MADE  BY  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK TO A COURT OR JUSTICE HAVING JURISDICTION TO ISSUE  AN
INJUNCTION,  AND UPON NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT, TO IMMEDIATELY ENJOIN AND
RESTRAIN THE CONTINUANCE OF SUCH VIOLATIONS; AND IF IT SHALL  APPEAR  TO
THE  SATISFACTION  OF  THE  COURT  OR JUSTICE, BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE
EVIDENCE, THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS, IN  FACT,  VIOLATED  THIS  SECTION  AN
INJUNCTION  MAY  BE  ISSUED  BY  SUCH  COURT  OR  JUSTICE  ENJOINING AND
RESTRAINING ANY FURTHER VIOLATION,  WITHOUT  REQUIRING  PROOF  THAT  ANY
PERSON HAS, IN FACT, BEEN INJURED OR DAMAGED THEREBY. THE COURT MAY MAKE
ALLOWANCES  TO  THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL  AS  PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH SIX OF
SUBDIVISION (A) OF SECTION EIGHTY-THREE HUNDRED THREE OF THE CIVIL PRAC-
TICE LAW AND RULES. IN ADDITION TO ANY SUCH ALLOWANCES,  THE  COURT  MAY
DIRECT  RESTITUTION TO ANY VICTIM UPON A SHOWING OF DAMAGES BY A PREPON-
DERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE.  IN ADDITION TO ANY SUCH RESTITUTION,  WHENEVER
THE COURT SHALL DETERMINE THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION HAS OCCURRED,
THE  COURT  MAY  IMPOSE  A  CIVIL  PENALTY OF NOT MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND
DOLLARS PER CALL, UP TO A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF NOT  MORE  THAN  ONE
HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS,  FOR  ALL  CALLS PLACED IN VIOLATION OF THIS
SECTION WITHIN A CONTINUOUS SEVENTY-TWO HOUR PERIOD. IN CONNECTION  WITH
ANY  SUCH  PROPOSED  APPLICATION,  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AUTHORIZED TO
TAKE PROOF AND MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THE RELEVANT FACTS AND  TO  ISSUE
SUBPOENAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES.
  4.  SUBDIVISION  THREE  OF  THIS  SECTION  DOES NOT CREATE, AND IS NOT
INTENDED TO CREATE, ANY RIGHT OF  ACTION  AGAINST  A  TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICE PROVIDER OR VOIP SERVICE PROVIDER WHOSE SERVICE, INCLUDING CALL-
ER  IDENTIFICATION  SERVICE, IS USED BY A BUSINESS ENTITY TO TRANSMIT OR
DISPLAY FALSE CALLER IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION  IN  VIOLATION  OF  THIS
SECTION.
  5.  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY MEMBER OF A
LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE  OF  HIS  OR  HER  ASSIGNED
DUTIES OR TO A COURT ORDER THAT SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZES THE USE OF CALL-
ER IDENTIFICATION MANIPULATION.
  S 2. Paragraph 6 of subdivision (a) of section 8303 of the civil prac-
tice  law  and  rules, as amended by chapter 530 of the laws of 2002, is
amended to read as follows:
  6. to the plaintiffs in an action or proceeding brought by the [attor-
ney-general] ATTORNEY GENERAL under [articles] ARTICLE twenty-two, twen-
ty-two-A, twenty-three-A or thirty-three or section three hundred  nine-
ty-one-b, THREE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE-PPP, or five hundred twenty-a of the
general business law, or under subdivision twelve of section sixty-three
of  the  executive  law,  or  under article twenty-three of the arts and
cultural affairs law, or in an  action  or  proceeding  brought  by  the
[attorney-general]   ATTORNEY   GENERAL  under  applicable  statutes  to
dissolve a corporation or for usurpation of public office,  or  unlawful
exercise  of  franchise  or  of corporate right, a sum not exceeding two
thousand dollars against each defendant.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth  day  after  it  shall
have become a law.

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Senate Bill S2497B

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Sponsored By

Patrick M. Gallivan

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Consumer Protection Committee

Bill Amendments

2013-S2497 - Details

2013-S2497 - Summary

2013-S2497 - Sponsor Memo

2013-S2497 - Bill Text download pdf

2013-S2497A - Details

2013-S2497A - Summary

2013-S2497A - Sponsor Memo

2013-S2497A - Bill Text download pdf

2013-S2497B (ACTIVE) - Details

2013-S2497B (ACTIVE) - Summary

2013-S2497B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2013-S2497B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments