HB 5454

Abstract

Amends the Personal Information Protection Act. Provides protections for social media users and creates a private cause of action for them if their accounts have been hacked and not restored by social media websites under certain circumstances. Defines a social media website as an Internet website or mobile application that enables users to communicate with each other by posting information, comments, messages, or images; is open to the public; has more than 75 million subscribers; and has never been specifically affiliated with any religion or political party. Provides that, if a court finds that a social media website has violated this Act, the court may award actual damages computed at a rate of $1,000 per violation per day and reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in maintaining that civil action. Requires the social media website to restore access to the user's online account within 24 hours of the discovery of the security breach; provide notice of the breach of security within seven days of the discovery; and provide instructions for restoring the integrity of the user's online account of a social media website in compliance with this Act.