Digital Identity Fraud Offense Establishment

State Bills: Georgia

Published March 25th, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

The Georgia General Assembly passed SB594 to establish digital identity fraud as a criminal offense under Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The bill requires social media platform operators to evaluate and respond to claims of digital identity fraud, and provides for both criminal penalties and civil causes of action with damages. The legislation passed the Senate 50-1 and the House 159-6.

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What changed

Georgia SB594 establishes a new criminal offense of digital identity fraud under Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, addressing internet and e-mail fraud. The bill provides for criminal penalties for individuals convicted of digital identity fraud and requires social media platform operators to evaluate claims of digital identity fraud. Civil penalties, enforcement provisions, and causes of action with damages are also established.

Social media platform operators and technology companies should review their current fraud reporting and response procedures to ensure compliance with the new evaluation requirements for digital identity fraud claims. The effective date provisions should be reviewed to determine when obligations take effect. Criminal defendants charged under this new offense face potential penalties established by the legislation, and civil litigants may pursue damages for digital identity fraud violations.

What to do next

Review current fraud reporting and response procedures for compliance with new evaluation requirements
Assess digital identity protection measures on platforms to align with new statutory standards
Monitor for additional rulemaking or guidance from Georgia courts regarding digital identity fraud prosecutions

Penalties

Criminal penalties for digital identity fraud; civil penalties for violations; cause of action with damages available to aggrieved parties

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Georgia / SB594 Passed SB594 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-06

Internet and E-mail Fraud; the criminal offense of digital identity fraud; establish

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to internet and e-mail fraud, so as to establish the criminal offense of digital identity fraud; to provide for criminal penalties; to require social media platform operators to evaluate claims of digital identify fraud; to provide for civil penalties; to provide for enforcement; to provide for a cause of action and damages; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill Details

State Georgia

Session 2025-2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

Official Source www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73658

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Action History

2026-03-25 H House Passed/Adopted By Substitute 2026-03-25 H House Third Readers 2026-03-19 H House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute 2026-03-10 H House Second Readers 2026-03-09 H House First Readers 2026-03-06 S Senate Passed/Adopted 2026-03-06 S Senate Third Read 2026-03-06 S Senate Taken from Table 2026-03-06 S Senate Tabled 2026-03-04 S Senate Read Second Time 2026-03-03 S Senate Committee Favorably Reported 2026-02-26 S Senate Read and Referred 2026-02-25 S Senate Hopper