2025 Georgia Codes – Page 114

(a) It shall be illegal for a person or entity that is not an authorized user, as defined in Code Section 16-9-151,
of a computer in this state to do any of the following with regard to such computer:
(1) Induce an authorized user to install a software component onto the computer by intentionally misrepre-
senting that installing software is necessary for security or privacy reasons or in order to open, view, or play
a particular type of content;
(2) Deceptively causing the copying and execution on the computer of a computer software component with
the intent of causing an authorized user to use the component in a way that violates any other provision of
this Code section;
(3) Prevent reasonable efforts to block the installation, execution, or disabling of a covered file-sharing pro-
gram on the computer; or
(4) Install, offer to install, or make available for installation, reinstallation, or update a covered file-sharing
program on the computer without first providing clear and conspicuous notice to the authorized user of the
computer showing which files on that computer will be made available to the public, obtaining consent
from the authorized user to install the covered file-sharing program, and requiring affirmative steps by the
authorized user to activate any feature on the covered file-sharing program that will make files on that com-
puter available to the public. Such notice shall be redisplayed each time a change occurs in the list of files
that will be made available to the public.
(b) Nothing in this Code section shall apply to any monitoring of, or interaction with, a user’s Internet or
other network connection or service, or a protected computer, by a telecommunications carrier, cable opera-
tor, computer hardware or software provider, or provider of information service or interactive computer
service for network or computer security purposes, diagnostics, technical support, repair, network manage-
ment, network maintenance, authorized updates of software or system firmware, authorized remote system
management, or detection or prevention of the unauthorized use of or fraudulent or other illegal activities
in connection with a network, service, or computer software, including scanning for and removing software
proscribed under this article.

(a) Any person who violates the provisions of paragraph (2) of Code Section 16-9-152, subparagraph (a)(1)
(A), (a)(1)(B), or (a)(1)(C) of Code Section 16-9-153, or paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section

Any public officer who willfully and intentionally violates the terms of his oath as prescribed by law shall,
upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.