House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise laws related to privacy violations in communications by expanding the definition of offenses. The bill introduces new provisions that make it illegal to obtain money or valuables from a person through electronic communication, as well as to possess and threaten to disclose real or digitally fabricated media without consent. Specifically, it amends Section 45-8-213 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to include these new offenses and defines "digitally fabricated" as media that misrepresents an individual using technical means such as artificial intelligence.

The bill also establishes penalties for violations, categorizing them based on the severity of the offense. A first offense under the new subsections (1)(d) or (1)(e) is classified as a misdemeanor, while subsequent offenses can escalate to felony charges with harsher penalties, including imprisonment and fines. Additionally, the bill clarifies that certain exceptions apply, such as for public officials performing their duties or disclosures made in the public interest. Overall, this legislation seeks to enhance protections against privacy violations in the digital age.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 45-8-213
HB0514_1(1): 45-8-213
HB0514_1(2): 45-8-213
HB0514_1(3): 45-8-213
HB0514_1(4): 45-8-213
HB0514_1(5): 45-8-213
HB0514_1(6): 45-8-213
HB0514_1: 45-8-213