AB 1681

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law requires that a smartphone that is manufactured on or after July 1, 2015, and sold in California after that date, include a technological solution at the time of sale, which may consist of software, hardware, or both software and hardware, that, once initiated and successfully communicated to the smartphone, can render inoperable the essential features, as defined, of the smartphone to an unauthorized user when the smartphone is not in the possession of an authorized user. This bill would require a manufacturer or operating system provider of a smartphone sold or leased in California on or after January 1, 2017, that is unable to decrypted the smartphone pursuant to a state court order to be subject to a civil penalty of $2,500 for each instance in which the smartphone is unable to be decrypted. The bill would prohibit a manufacturer or operating system provider who has paid this civil penalty from passing any portion of the penalty on to purchasers of smartphones. The bill would authorize only the Attorney General or a district attorney to bring a civil suit to enforce these provisions. This bill would make findings and declarations related to smartphones and criminal activity.