New York legislation · 2025-2026 General Assembly
New York S9934: Relates to prohibiting the use of stealth crawlers
Status: Passed both chambers, June 5, 2026
Prohibits the deployment of a stealth crawler in a manner that would damage, impair or burden the operation of a covered news source or otherwise cause a news source economic harm.
What the bill says
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the use of stealth crawlers.
From the amended text, May 12, 2026:
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the use of stealth crawlers THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new article 48 to read as follows: ARTICLE 48 NEW YORK STEALTH CRAWLER PROHIBITION ACT SECTION 1750. SHORT TITLE. 1751. DEFINITIONS. 1752. STEALTH CRAWLER DISCLOSURE. 1753. STEALTH CRAWLER PROHIBITION. 1754. ENFORCEMENT. 1755. SEVERABILITY. § 1750. SHORT TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE "NEW YORK STEALTH CRAWLER PROHIBITION ACT". § 1751. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: 1. "CRAWLER" MEANS SOFTWARE THAT RETRIEVES, SCANS, INDEXES, SCRAPES OR OTHERWISE ACCESSES A WEBSITE OR OTHER INTERNET SOURCE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AN ONLINE CRAWLER, SPIDER, FETCHER, CLIENT, BOT, USER AGENT, AI AGENT OR EQUIVALENT TOOL. 2. "COVERED NEWS SOURCE" MEANS THE WEBSITE OR ANY OTHER RELEVANT SOURCE OF ANY PRINT, TELEVISION, RADIO, NETWORK, CABLE, SATELLITE OR DIGITAL PUBLICATION OR SERVICE WHICH: (A) PERFORMS A PUBLIC-INFORMATION FUNCTION COMPARABLE TO THAT TRADITIONALLY SERVED BY JOURNALISM ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS NEWSPAPERS, BROADCASTERS, MAGAZINES AND OTHER PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS; (B) MAKES A SUBSTANTIAL EXPENDITURE OF LABOR, SKILL, AND MONEY TO CREATE, EDIT, PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE CONTENT INCLUDING BY ENGAGING …
Sponsors
- Michael Gianaris (D, 12) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : RETURNED TO SENATE
- : PASSED ASSEMBLY
- : ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.633
- : SUBSTITUTED FOR A11292
- : REFERRED TO CODES
- : DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
- : PASSED SENATE
- : ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
- : 2ND REPORT CAL.
- : 1ST REPORT CAL.1326
Votes
- FLOOR Vote (June 2, 2026): 60 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Senate Internet And Technology Committee: COMMITTEE Vote (May 21, 2026): 6 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Internet And Technology Committee Vote (May 21, 2026): 6 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: General Business Law
Common questions
- What is S9934?
- S9934 is a bill in the New York Legislature (2025-2026 General Assembly): Relates to prohibiting the use of stealth crawlers.
- What does S9934 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the use of stealth crawlers.
- What is the status of S9934?
- Passed both chambers as of June 5, 2026. Latest action: RETURNED TO SENATE (June 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored S9934?
- Michael Gianaris (D, 12).
- Where is the official record for S9934?
- On the New York Legislature website: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9934
Source: official New York record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.