Video, Audio and Publication Rental Records Confidentiality (including library borrowing records)
RI Video and Library Records Law
Marketing · Other
Makes it unlawful to reveal records linking a person's name and address to the titles or nature of videos, recordings or publications they bought, rented or borrowed from libraries, bookstores, video or music stores or other retailers. Such records must be kept confidential and released only on written waiver.
- Where
- Rhode Island
- Citation
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-32
- Status
- In force
- Enforced by
- Prosecutors; injured persons via civil action
- People can sue
- Yes
- Penalties
- Criminal fine up to $1,000 per violation and/or up to 6 months in prison; injured persons may recover the greater of actual damages or $250 per violation plus attorney's fees and costs.
- Applies to
- Libraries, bookstores, video stores, record and cassette shops and any retailer or distributor of video, audio or publication products, including records held in remote computing or electronic storage
Practices it requires
- Do not reveal, transmit, publish or disseminate records identifying individuals with the titles or nature of materials they purchased, leased, rented or borrowed, except to employees in the normal course of work or under lawful compulsion.R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-32(a)
- Maintain all such transaction records as confidential and release them only upon the individual's written waiver.R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-18-32(b)
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: Effective date of P.L. 1988, ch. 94 not confirmed.
Research reference, not legal advice.