This bill amends Section 708.7 of the Iowa Code to address harassment through the dissemination, publication, distribution, or posting of personal information. It establishes that a person commits harassment if they purposefully and without legitimate purpose share another person's personal information without consent, intending to threaten, intimidate, annoy, or alarm that person, or to encourage third parties to do so. Such a violation is classified as harassment in the first degree, which is an aggravated misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years of confinement and a fine ranging from $855 to $8,540.

Additionally, the bill introduces a definition of "personal information," which includes a person's contact details and those of their family, such as home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social media profiles, places of employment, and any other information that could facilitate threats or intimidation. This new legal language aims to enhance protections against harassment by clearly outlining the behaviors that constitute such offenses and the associated penalties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 708.7