Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed into law two cyber security bills (SB1307 and SB919) patroned by Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-Loudoun) on May 6 in Arlington. McAuliffe and Wexton were joined by Sen. George Barker, Del. Tom Rust and members of the recently formed Virginia Cyber Commission.
In opening remarks about the bills and the future of cyber in Virginia, McAuliffe said, “A tremendous amount of assets are going to be put into the cyber industry, we want those assets here in Virginia both for economic development and related to cyber-crime.”
SB1307: Standardizing Search Procedures for Digital Evidence clarifies that a search warrant that authorizes the lawful seizure of a computer or other device containing electronic or digital information includes the search and seizure of the physical components and the electronic or digital information contained in such computer or other device, and that the data stored in such devices may be extracted and analyzed in a location outside the county or city where the warrant was issued.
SB919: Better Tools to Prosecute Online Sex Crimes prohibits internet service providers from disclosing the existence of an administrative subpoena to determine the identity of internet posters only if relevant to an investigation of certain crimes against children, and if there is reason to believe that the disclosure of the subpoena would endanger the life or physical safety of the victim, or otherwise seriously jeopardize an investigation.