House lawmakers skeptical of relaxing computer crime law

Advocacy groups are urging Congress to narrow a computer hacking law to ensure that people don't face years in prison for violating a company's terms of service. But House Judiciary Committee lawmakers expressed little enthusiasm for relaxing the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) at a hearing.

Instead, several lawmakers called for toughening the law to combat the growing threat of hackers. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) -- the chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, which was holding the hearing -- said that it may be time for Congress to "augment and improve" the CFAA to address international criminal groups. He said he would be concerned with any proposal that would decriminalize computer abuse that is currently illegal.