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New Jersey Passes New Reader Privacy Act, Expanding Laws to Cover eBooks

Earlier this week the New Jersey state legislature passed a new bill which expanded NJ state privacy laws to include ebooks.

Working from the precedent that readers have a right to keep their library records private, the new Reader Privacy Act ( S-967) expands that right to include ebooks as well as paper books. The law, which you can read here, prohibits service providers (both bookstores and ebook retailers) from sharing a reader’s info absent a court order, explicit permission from the user, or in certain circumstances such as evidence of a crime against the service provider or user.

"This legislation will ensure that information about the books consumers have browsed, purchased or read online is not disclosed unless there is a proven public need," said state Senator Barnes, who co-sponsored the bill. "This measure appropriately meets the need to protect the consumer and the safety of the public."

Having been passed by both the state Assembly and state Senate, the bill is now on its way to the desk of Governor Chris Christie to be signed into law.

New Jersey is at least the third state to pass this type of law; the first and best known is California, which passed a law in 2011. The state of Arizona passed a similar law in 2013, and New Jersey also considered passing a reader privacy law in 2013.

It’s not clear what happened to that earlier proposed bill, but from the way it was discussed by its sponsors last year I would say that it was inspired by the same motivations as S-967.

The 2013 bill was co-sponsored by several legislators, including Assemblyperson Mila M. Jasey. The bill stemmed from Jasey’s interest in libraries, and the significant role they play in communities.  "Our library—the South Orange Public Library—doesn’t even keep a list of books that a patron checks out. Reading material in any other format deserves the same sort of protection," said Jasey.

Politicker NJ

image  by MPD01605

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Rethinking Ebooks and Media Tie-Ins | Digital Book World September 24, 2014 um 8:23 am

[…] New Jersey Protects Ebook Readers’ Privacy (The Digital Reader) A bill clears the state’s legislature designed to “ensure that information about the books consumers have browsed, purchased or read online is not disclosed unless there is a proven public need,” in the words of one of its co-sponsors. […]


Eric Hellman September 24, 2014 um 10:51 am

If Gov. Christie signs this bill, it will turn my library into a law breaker. BCCLS uses AddThis on their catalog; every click I make on their website informs AddThis about my book related browsing.

I’d like to see the law include a period for libraries to fix up their websites.

See my recent blog post: Libraries are giving away the user privacy store.

Nate Hoffelder September 24, 2014 um 11:03 am

I would think existing law makes your library a law breaker.


Top 5 Publishing News Stories 9/22-9/26 – Publishing Trendsetter September 26, 2014 um 12:31 pm

[…] New Jersey changed its state privacy laws to include browsed, purchased, and read ebooks. […]


Reading about eReading this week September 29, 2014 | Allegany County Library System Director's Notes September 29, 2014 um 12:36 pm

[…] New Jersey Passes New Reader Privacy Act, Expanding Laws to Cover eBooks […]


NJ Gov. Christie Vetoes Reader Privacy Act, Asks for Stronger, Narrower Law – The Digital Reader November 22, 2014 um 6:56 pm

[…] previously reported in The Digital Reader, the bill passed in September by wide margins in both houses of the New […]


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