Anti-phishing and anti-spyware bill Internet Spyware Prevention Act — or “I-Spy” — has been reintroduced to US House of Representatives by Representatives Bob Goodlatte and Zoe Lofgren.

I-Spy proposes up to five years in prison for violators who place software on computers that transfers personal user information without the user’s knowledge, or software that weakens a PC’s security.

I-Spy’s died twice before it reached the Senate floor — we’re thinking it’s not just because of concerned online advertisers, but largely, as CNET points out, that “the most worrisome forms of spyware already are illegal. The Federal Trade Commission has told politicians it already possesses broad authority to punish any fraudulent and deceptive adware or spyware practices with fines, and has sued spyware purveyors in the past.”

Read CNET’s full “House tries again for antispyware bill” article »