IAR: Anti-Spyware Bill Clears Committee Hurdle

The SPY Act anti-spyware bill passed through its congressional committee yesterday after the software and ISP industries successfully tacked on a few amendments absolving them of responsibilities and liabilities. The House now may schedule a vote on the bill. The act calls for disclosure before companies can make users' computers download software, disclosure of what gets tracked, easy means of removing software and other mechanisms that are designed to thwart the more annoying aspects of spyware. The Senate has been toying with a similar bill, but it hasn't been pushed through any committees on that side of the Hill.