Attorney Generals' offices press releases: on Technology
Ken Salazar:
Fight junk email and junk faxes
On Attorney General Ken Salazar's legislative agenda and priorities for consideration by the 2004 General Assembly: - Fighting junk e-mail. Amend and clarify the Colorado Consumer Protection Act to explicitly
include the prohibited use of commercial e-mail to deceive or mislead consumers. The new federal junk e-mail law preempts all state laws specifically regulating junk e-mail but allows states to enact or enforce general laws not
specific to e-mail relating to acts of fraud or computer crime.
- Fighting junk faxes. Correct a loophole in Colorado's junk fax law to provide penalties for sending faxes subsequent to the consumer requesting no more faxes be sent.
Other legislation is expected to be introduced further strengthening Colorado's junk fax law that Attorney General Salazar anticipates supporting.
Source: Attorney General's Press Release, "Legislative Priorities"
Jan 5, 2004
Martha Coakley:
Expand wire interception law with one-party consent
[Coakley filed an] Act to Combat Economic Crime, [which includes an updated law on] Wire Interception: Last updated in 1968, the Massachusetts wire interception statute has not been updated to address either the technological advancements in
telecommunications, or the changes in the nature and structure of criminal enterprises over the past 40 years. This bill provides much-needed updates to the wire interception law, including adding a definition for "electronic communication," designating
new crimes eligible for the use of a lawful interception, and extending the amount of time that a lawful interception can remain open from 15 to 30 days to account for the breadth and complexities of criminal investigations in the 21st century.
The bill also allows lawful, court approved one-party consent monitoring and recording of conversations of certain crimes. At this time, 43 states have wire interception statutes, and 35 have one-party consent statutes.
Source: Attorney General Press release on website www.mass.gov
Aug 3, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Give law enforcement tools to prosecute 21st century crime
Attorney General Martha Coakley, with a coalition of legislators and law enforcement organizations, announced the filing of An Act to Combat Economic Crime, comprehensive economic crime legislation designed to give law enforcement the necessary tools to
investigate and prosecute sophisticated criminal activities and enterprises in the 21st century. The bill updates the law in three areas, including money laundering, enterprise crime, and wire interception."As our economy has struggled in recent
years, we have seen criminals engage in more sophisticated, organized, and often large-scale schemes to steal money or otherwise profit from illegal conduct," said Attorney General
Coakley. "Crimes such as money laundering and engaging in corrupt business enterprises are very difficult to prosecute at the state level because police and prosecutors simply do not have the necessary tools to investigate and prosecute such crimes."
Source: Attorney General Press release on website www.mass.gov
Aug 3, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Prosecuted identity theft cases
A Cumberland, Rhode Island, woman pled guilty in Bristol Superior Court yesterday in connection with stealing the identity of a 77-year-old acquaintance and using it to create a fake identification card and to purchase items for personal use. Julie
Senechal, age 46, pled guilty to charges of Identity Fraud, Larceny, Forgery & Uttering. Senechal was sentenced to serve two years in State Prison, [plus requiring that for 5 years] she not be employed in a position where she has control over money.
Source: Attorney General Press release on website www.mass.gov
Aug 21, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Settled all claims on Big Dig ceiling collapse
Attorney General Martha Coakley announced that her office has settled the pending civil claims, concluding all litigation related to the July 2006 Big Dig I-90 Connector Tunnel ceiling collapse. Gannett Fleming, the designer for the section of the tunnel
ceiling that collapsed, agreed to pay $1,525,000 into the Central Artery Statewide Road and Bridge Infrastructure Fund. Sika Corporation, the manufacturer of the epoxy glue used in the ceiling that collapsed, agreed to pay $200,000 into the Fund.
The following is a partial list of AG Coakley's Big Dig recoveries since taking office in January 2007:- July 27, 2007. $50.0 million settlement with Aggregate Industries (false claims for adulterated cement).
- January 23, 2008. $458.2 million
settlement with Bechtel/Parsons Brinkerhoff for ceiling collapse, wall leaks, various design errors and problems.
- December 17, 2008. $16.0 million settlement with Powers Fasteners, resolving both criminal manslaughter indictment and civil claims.
Source: Attorney General Press release on website www.mass.gov
Mar 26, 2009
Kamala Harris:
eCrime Unit: target technology crimes like identity theft
California Attorney General Kamala Harris has created a 20-attorney unit that will specifically target technology crimes. The eCrime Unit will be in charge of identifying and prosecuting identity theft, cybercrimes and other crimes involving the use of
technology. "Where there are predators and predatory practices, we want to ensure that we have the skills and technology to go after them and make sure there will be accountability and consequence," said Harris.She said that with the implementation
of the eCrime Unit, she hopes that California can be a leader in using innovative law enforcement techniques to target these types of criminals.
The eCrime Unit will also provide investigative and prosecutorial support to the five California regional
high-tech task forces funded through the High Technology Theft Apprehension and Prosecution Trust Fund Program. California had 10 of the top 25 metropolitan areas for identity-theft related consumer complaints in 2010.
Source: CBS-SF on Calif. Attorney General press release "eCrime"
Dec 13, 2011
Page last updated: Aug 04, 2024