[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 20 (Monday, February 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 423, ANTI-SPOOFING ACT OF 2017

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 6, 2017

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker I rise in support of H.R. 423, the Anti-
Spoofing Act of 2017, which amends the Communications Act of 1934, to 
make it unlawful to cause a caller identification service to knowingly 
transmit inaccurate caller identification information with the intent 
to:
  defraud,
  cause harm, or
  wrongfully obtain anything of value.
  Spoofing is a practice in which a phone number shown on a phone or 
caller identification device deliberately is falsified.
  Spoofing is a commonly used tool for a number of illegal practices, 
including ``phishing'' for personal information and ``swatting''--
calling in a fictitious crime in progress in order to generate a police 
response.
  The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 prohibits spoofing of voice caller 
identification information. However, as communications methods and 
consumer habits continue to evolve, so do the attempts by third parties 
to gain personal information for criminal use.
  Many Americans now rely on text messaging to stay connected.
  According to CTIA, in 2015, Americans sent over 156 billion text 
messages per month.
  H.R. 423, the Anti-Spoofing Act, will extend the provisions of the 
Truth in Caller ID Act to include text messaging and text messaging 
services.
  The legislation adds a definition of ``spoofing service'' to the 
statute, addressing the growth of services that allows a user to 
knowingly transmit misleading or inaccurate caller identification 
information.
  In addition, it extends the prohibitions to any person or service 
placing an international call to a recipient within the United States.
  Additionally, H.R. 423 will revise the definitions of ``caller 
identification information'' and ``caller identification service'' to 
include text messages sent using a text messaging service.
  It defines ``text message'' as real-time messages consisting of text, 
images, sounds, or other information transmitted from or received by a 
device identified by a telephone number.
  It also includes in the definition both, real-time and two-way voice 
or video communications, addressing the emerging law enforcement issue 
of ``swatting'' by which people can purposefully misdirect valuable, 
police efforts and resources.
  This bill takes the right approach targeting behavior, while 
protecting innovations that are important to the digital economy.
  As the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, I 
understand the vital need to safeguard against caller identification 
spoofing.
  For example, women's abuse shelters and law enforcement officers 
working undercover have a need to protect their clients' identities.
  This bill seeks to target those who have the intent to cause harm or 
commit a crime.
  I support this legislation because it protects the consumer from 
criminal behavior, while protecting our fundamental right to privacy.

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