The bill H. 3061 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 16-13-20, which establishes the offense of intentionally impersonating another person through electronic means, such as email or social media, without their consent. The bill outlines that such impersonation must be done with the intent to harm, intimidate, threaten, or defraud the individual being impersonated. It specifies that it is unlawful to open accounts or send messages that mislead recipients into believing they are communicating with the impersonated person. Violators of this law would face fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

Additionally, the bill defines several key terms related to the offense, including "access software provider," "cable operator," "interactive computer service," "social networking website," and "telecommunications service." Importantly, the provisions of this section do not apply to certain entities, such as social networking websites, interactive computer service providers, telecommunications service providers, cable operators, internet service providers, or law enforcement officers acting within the scope of their employment. The bill will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 16-13-20
Latest Version: 16-13-20
12/06/2024: 16-13-20