Digital Book Privacy Bill Introduced in New Jersey General Assembly
From PolitickerNJ:
Due to the rise in popularity of digital book purchasing and borrowing, as well as concerns over individual privacy protections, New Jersey law makers have decided to introduce legislation that would place readers and purchasers of books and electronic books –“e-Books”– under similar protections as library records by expanding reader privacy law.
Assembly Democrats Benjie E. Wimberly and Mila M. Jasey note the invention of digital books and e-readers has raised questions around the country about privacy and broadening protections to include new literary mediums. California enacted similar legislation in 2011 extending library privacy laws to include digital book records.
E-books and online purchases have redefined the way we read, buy and borrow books,” said Wimberly (D-Bergen, Passaic). “These new methods raise questions regarding privacy and disclosure of personal information. Current law is simply too antiquated to adequately provide confidentiality the digital age we are in.
“Individuals should be allowed to read, shop without fear of intrusion. Just as with books you borrow at the library, your e-book preferences should also remain private.”
Read the Complete Article
Read the Bill (A3802)
About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
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