N.Y. Senate passes S.I. pol’s bill to protect from technology-assisted stalking
Originally published in
Staten Island Advance
on
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The New York State Senate has passed a bill redefining the term “following” to include unauthorized use of tracking devices to constitute the crime of stalking in the fourth degree.
The bill, S5505, sponsored by state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), redefines the crime to include the use of select devices or computers to gain unauthorized access to, record, track, or report the movement or location of individuals or their property.
“As technology continues to advance faster than ever, our laws here must evolve to protect New Yorkers from the various ways stalkers can access their location,” Scarcella-Spanton said. “Location sharing, which was created to help promote safety, is now being exploited for nefarious purposes, and it’s so important that we update our laws to address these new threats. This legislation is a crucial step in keeping my constituents safe and protecting their privacy.”