Internet impersonation: civil cause of action.

Under existing criminal law, any person who knowingly and without consent credibly impersonates another actual person through or on an Internet Web site or by other electronic means for purposes of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person is guilty of a public offense punishable pursuant to specified provisions. This bill would establish a private civil cause of action against any person who knowingly and without consent credibly impersonates another person through or on an Internet Web site or by other electronic means and intentionally induces another to believe the person is the impersonated person, if that other person suffers any general or special damages. The bill would also establish a private civil cause of action against any person who knowingly uses another person's likeness without that person's knowledge or consent, in furtherance of the aforementioned activity, if the person whose likeness was used has sustained general or special damages. The bill would authorize the court to award reasonable attorney's fees and court costs to the prevailing plaintiff.