AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- COURT ADMINISTRATION .

Stronger privacy protections for judges and families

The law protects current, retired, and recalled Rhode Island state justices, judges, and magistrates, and federal counterparts who live in Rhode Island. Covered information includes Social Security numbers, home addresses, home and mobile phone numbers, and personal email addresses. Family coverage includes spouses, domestic partners, children, stepchildren, parents, and other blood relatives sharing a home with covered state judicial officers, Rhode Island federal district judges or magistrates, or First Circuit judges living in Rhode Island. State, county, and local agencies must remove covered information from public content within 72 hours after receiving the protected individual's written notice. Agencies need that individual's written permission to post or display it publicly. After a written request from the protected individual or an agent, private recipients also have 72 hours to remove it. They must keep it off websites they control, cannot transfer it, and need written permission to post or display it publicly. Data brokers cannot sell, buy, license, trade, or otherwise make covered information available for payment, even without a request. A protected individual or covered family member can sue in Rhode Island court if a violation makes their information public. If the court orders a violation stopped or declares their rights, the responsible person, business, or association must pay their costs and reasonable attorney fees.