Oklahoma Computer Crimes Laws

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016

Everyone's using computers more these days, so of course criminals are using computers, too. Annoying spam, invasive viruses, hacking, and identity theft, are just some of the ways criminals can use computers. So what laws are out there to keep our computers, our personal information, and our selves safe from computer crime? Here is a quick introduction computer crimes laws in Oklahoma.

Computer Crimes

We may have heard of "hacking," but that is just one of many "computer crimes" outlawed by state laws that can cover everything from damaging a computer system and spam operations, to hacking into a secure network.

Computer Crime Laws in Oklahoma

The following table lists the specifics of Oklahoma's computer crime statutes.

Code Section	Oklahoma Statutes Title 21, §§1952, et seq.: Computer Crimes Act
What is Prohibited	Willfully, and without authorization, gain or attempt to gain access to and damage, modify, alter, delete, destroy, copy, make use of, disclose or take possession of a computer, computer system, computer network or any other property; Use a computer, computer system, computer network or any other property as hereinbefore defined for the purpose of devising or executing a scheme or artifice with the intent to defraud, deceive, extort or for the purpose of controlling or obtaining money, property, services or other thing of value by means of a false or fraudulent pretense or representation; Willfully exceed the limits of authorization and damage, modify, alter, destroy, copy, delete, disclose or take possession of a computer, computer system, computer network or any other property; Willfully and without authorization, gain or attempt to gain access to a computer, computer system, computer network or any other property; Willfully and without authorization use or cause to be used computer services; Willfully and without authorization disrupt or cause the disruption of computer services or deny or cause the denial of access or other computer services to an authorized user of a computer, computer system or computer network.
Mental State Required for Prosecution	Willfully
Misdemeanor Computer Crimes	Access or use of cause to be used computer services
Felony Computer Crimes	Access plus scheme to defraud; alter, damage or destroy hard/software; denial of access; traffic in passwords. There are several prohibited acts under the Computer Crimes Act classified as a felony
Attempt Considered a Crime?	Yes
Civil Lawsuit Permitted?	Yes