Statutory Right to Privacy (civil action)
RI Privacy Act (tort)
Other · Marketing
Codifies four privacy torts as statutory rights: freedom from unreasonable intrusion upon seclusion, from appropriation of name or likeness without permission, from unreasonable publicity given to private life, and from false-light publicity. It sets the elements a plaintiff must prove for each.
- Where
- Rhode Island
- Citation
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-28.1
- Status
- In force
- Enforced by
- Courts via private civil actions
- People can sue
- Yes
- Penalties
- Injured parties may sue in superior or district court for damages or equitable relief; the court may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the prevailing party.
- Applies to
- Any person who violates the privacy of a person in Rhode Island, including businesses using a person's name or likeness
Rights it gives people
- Right to be secure from unreasonable intrusion on physical solitude or seclusion into something expected to be private, where the intrusion is offensive to a reasonable person.R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-28.1(a)(1)
- Right to be secure from appropriation of one's name or likeness without permission for another's benefit; publication need not be shown.R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-28.1(a)(2)
- Right to be secure from unreasonable publicity of private facts that would offend a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities.R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-28.1(a)(3)
- Right to be secure from publicity placing a person in a false light through an objectionable false association.R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-28.1(a)(4)
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: Effective date of P.L. 1980, ch. 403 not confirmed.
Research reference, not legal advice.