(1) As used in this section, the term “governmental entity” means any official, officer, commission, board, authority, council, committee, or department of the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of state government; any state university; or any county or municipality, special district, water management district, or other political subdivision of the state.
(2) A person who willfully, knowingly, and without authorization introduces a computer contaminant that gains unauthorized access to, encrypts, modifies, or otherwise renders unavailable data, programs, or supporting documentation residing or existing within a computer, computer system, computer network, or electronic device owned or operated by a governmental entity and demands a ransom to prevent the publication of or 1to restore access to the data, programs, or supporting documentation or to otherwise remediate the impact of the computer contaminant commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(3) An employee or contractor of a governmental entity with access to the governmental entity’s network who willfully and knowingly aids or abets another in the commission of a violation of subsection (2) commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(4) In addition to any other penalty imposed, a person convicted of a violation of this section must pay a fine equal to twice the amount of the ransom demand. Moneys recovered under this subsection shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
History.—s. 6, ch. 2022-220.
1Note.—The word “to” was inserted by the editors to improve clarity.