Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act
Texas Spyware Act
Data security · Other
Prohibits installing software on someone else's computer to deceptively collect personal information through keystroke logging or browsing tracking, hijack settings, or block removal. Private suits are limited to affected software providers, site and trademark owners, carriers, cable operators, and ISPs; botnet victims have a separate action.
- Where
- Texas
- Citation
- Tex. Bus. & Com. Code ch. 324 (324.001-324.102)
- Status
- In force
- In force since
- 2009-04-01
- Enforced by
- Texas Attorney General; software providers, web page or trademark owners, carriers, cable operators, and ISPs
- People can sue
- Limited
- Penalties
- Civil penalty up to $100,000 per violation plus injunctions (324.102); listed businesses may sue for damages (324.101).
- Applies to
- Any person other than the owner or operator of a computer in Texas who causes software to be copied onto it (324.051-324.055)
Practices it requires
- Do not use software copied onto another's computer to collect personally identifiable information through deceptive keystroke logging or comprehensive browsing tracking, or to cull listed personal data from the hard drive.Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 324.051
- Do not modify settings, damage the computer, or prevent the owner from blocking or disabling software through deception.Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 324.052-324.053
Sources
- Official text
- Tex. Bus. & Com. Code ch. 324 (Texas Legislature, Texas Constitution and Statutes)
- Tex. Bus. & Com. Code ch. 324, statute text file served by the Texas Legislative Council
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-24 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Research reference, not legal advice.