Privacy on the Web

Background

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes of our time. In the past, it was common practice to scan and publish actual signatures on documents posted to Sonoma County websites. This practice provides a potential thief with a handy tool that might be used for forgery or identity theft.

The practice of adding a scanned signature also presents an accessibility barrier for assistive technology. Unless tagged correctly, a screen reader cannot interpret a scanned signature.

Best Practice/Standards

If a facsimile of a signature is to appear in a document, the following options are recommended:

• Use an S-signature: /John Q. Public/
• Indicate who signed the document with text: Signed by John Q. Public
• Use an alternate font to indicate a signature

  Note: If an alternate font is used for a document that will be converted to a PDF file, font embedding options must be set in the Adobe PDF creation preferences to ensure the end user will have the intended user experience. For additional information, search on "font embedding" in the Acrobat help file.

• Add the following text at the bottom of the page: Signed document on file with [department/agency name].

California Public Records Act

Assembly Bill No. 1595, Chapter 343

An act to amend Section 6254.21 of the Government Code, relating to public officials.
[Approved by Governor September 22, 2005. Filed with Secretary of State September 22, 2005.]

Legislative Counsel´s Digest

AB 1595, Evans. Public official: personal information. Existing law prohibits a state or local agency from posting the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official on the Internet without first obtaining the written permission of that individual. Existing law also prohibits a person from knowingly posting on the Internet the home address or telephone number of an elected or appointed official or of the official’s residing spouse or child with intent to cause imminent great bodily harm to that individual.

This bill would prohibit a person, business, or association from publicly posting or publicly displaying on the Internet the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official if that official has made a written demand of that person, business, or association to not disclose his or her home address or telephone number, or from soliciting, selling, or trading on the Internet the home address or telephone number of an elected or appointed official with the intent to cause bodily harm to the official or to any person residing at the official’s home address. It would provide various remedies for violation of these provisions. It would limit the liability of an interactive computer service or access software provider under these provisions. This bill also would add to the list of elected or appointed officials covered by all of the foregoing provisions state administrative law judges, federal judges, and federal defenders, Members of the United States Congress, and appointees of the President.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 6254.21 of the Government Code is amended to read:

1. No state or local agency shall post the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official on the Internet without first obtaining the written permission of that individual.
2. No person shall knowingly post the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official, or of the official´s residing spouse or child on the Internet knowing that person is an elected or appointed official and intending to cause imminent great bodily harm that is likely to occur or threatening to cause imminent great bodily harm to that individual. A violation of this subdivision is a misdemeanor. A violation of this subdivision that leads to the bodily injury of the official, or his or her residing spouse or child, is a misdemeanor or a felony.
3. (1) No person, business, or association shall publicly post or publicly display on the Internet the home address or telephone number of any elected or appointed official if that official has made a written demand of that person, business, or association to not disclose his or her home address or telephone number. A written demand made under this paragraph by a state constitutional officer, a mayor, or a Member of the Legislature, a city council, or a board of supervisors shall include a statement describing a threat or fear for the safety of that official or of any person residing at the official’s home address. A written demand made under this paragraph by an elected official shall be effective for four years, regardless of whether or not the official’s term has expired prior to the end of the four-year period. For this purpose, “publicly post” or “publicly display” means to intentionally communicate or otherwise make available to the general public. (2) An official whose home address or telephone number is made public as a result of a violation of paragraph (1) may bring an action seeking injunctive or declarative relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. If a jury or court finds that a violation has occurred, it may grant injunctive or declarative relief and shall award the official court costs and reasonable attorney´s fees.
4. (1) No person, business, or association shall solicit, sell, or trade on the Internet the home address or telephone number of an elected or appointed official with the intent to cause imminent great bodily harm to the official or to any person residing at the official’s home address. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an official whose home address or telephone number is solicited, sold, or traded in violation of paragraph (1) may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction. If a jury or court finds that a violation has occurred, it shall award damages to that official in an amount up to a maximum of three times the actual damages but in no case less than four thousand dollars ($4,000).
5. An interactive computer service or access software provider, as defined in Section 230(f) of Title 47 of the United States Code, shall not be liable under this section unless the service or provider intends to abet or cause imminent great bodily harm that is likely to occur or threatens to cause imminent great bodily harm to an elected or appointed official.
6. For purposes of this section, “elected or appointed official” includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
   1. State constitutional officers.
   2. Members of the Legislature.
   3. Judges and court commissioners.
   4. District attorneys.
   5. Public defenders.
   6. Members of a city council.
   7. Members of a board of supervisors.
   8. Appointees of the Governor.
   9. Appointees of the Legislature.
   10. Mayors.
   11. City attorneys.
   12. Police chiefs and sheriffs.
   13. A public safety official as defined in Section 6254.24.
   14. State administrative law judges.
   15. Federal judges and federal defenders.
   16. Members of the United States Congress and appointees of the President.
7. Nothing in this section is intended to preclude punishment instead under Sections 69, 76, or 422 of the Penal Code, or any other provision of law.