{"id":376593,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:52","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/texas-law\/texas-computer-crimes-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-02-27T15:51:01","modified_gmt":"2018-02-27T20:51:01","slug":"texas-computer-crimes-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/texas-law\/texas-computer-crimes-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Texas Computer Crimes Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Texas Computer Crimes Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\n

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There are various types of criminal activities that fall under the umbrella of "computer crimes<\/a>" in Texas. Many people may be familiar with the term "hacking," however, there are computer crimes that are even broader and cover a variety of topics. Computer crimes can be broad in range but basically involve any use of a computer or other technological machine or system like a computer to harm, defraud or threaten another person, or to solicit minors or breach security. Texas computer crimes laws are constantly changing to keep up with the fast pace of technology.<\/p>\n

Related crimes include phishing scams<\/a> and identity theft<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Texas Computer Crimes at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n
Statute<\/b><\/td>\nTexas Penal Code \u00a7 33.01<\/a>, et seq.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Offenses Covered by the Computer Crimes Statute<\/b><\/td>\n
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  1. Knowingly accessing a computer, computer network or computer system without the consent of the owner;<\/li>\n
  2. Knowingly soliciting a minor under the age of 17 over the internet, text message, or other electronic system, to meet in person for the purpose of engaging in sexual behavior with the defendant;<\/li>\n
  3. Knowingly accessing a computer system, network, program, software or machine that is part of a voting system that uses direct recording electronic voting machines and tampers with the votes or the ability of someone to vote;<\/li>\n
  4. Creating a web page or leaving messages on a social networking site using the persona of another without the person’s consent and with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate or threaten someone; or<\/li>\n
  5. Referencing the name, domain address, phone number or any other identifying information of a person without that person’s consent, intending to cause the recipient to think the message is truly coming from that person, with the intent to harm or defraud someone.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Crime Classifications<\/b><\/td>\n
Penalties and Sentences<\/b><\/td>\n