Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152.15 — Encryption used in criminal activity

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 7.1: Computer Crimes, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Encryption used in criminal activity

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152.15

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152.15Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

Any person who willfully uses encryption to further any criminal activity shall be guilty of an offense which is separate and distinct from the predicate criminal activity and punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. "Encryption" means the enciphering of intelligible data into unintelligible form or the deciphering of unintelligible data into intelligible form.

Official sources

Official section text (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Questions this section answers

Is encryption used in criminal activity a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Encryption used in criminal activity is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152.15.

Which Virginia statute covers encryption used in criminal activity?

Encryption used in criminal activity is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-152.15 (Encryption used in criminal activity).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.