Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has introduced the Reader Privacy Act of 2011 in the California State Senate.
Here's an excerpt from the press release:
Today, California Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) announced the Reader Privacy Act of 2011 – legislation that would require government agencies to seek a warrant or court order in order to access consumers' reading records from bookstores and online retailers. SB 602 would establish consumer protections for book purchases similar to long-established privacy laws for library records.
"Current law is completely inadequate when it comes to protecting one's privacy for book purchases, especially considering the increasing popularity of online shopping and electronic books," said Yee. "Individuals should be free to buy books without fear of government intrusion and witch hunts. If law enforcement has reason to suspect wrongdoing, they can obtain a warrant for such information."
Many bookstores already collect information about readers and their purchases. Digital book services can collect even more detailed information including which books are browsed, how long each page is viewed, and even digital notes made in the margins.
Historically, sensitive reader information has come under fire. During the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, Americans were questioned about whether they had read Marx or Lenin. In the years following September 11, 2001, the FBI sought patron information from more than 200 libraries.
Just this past year, Amazon was asked by the North Carolina Department of Revenue to turn over 50 million purchase records including books, videos, and other expressive material.
SB 602 will update California state law to ensure that government and third parties cannot access Californians' reading records without proper justification. . . .
SB 602 will receive its first hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee in April.
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