General Assembly of North Carolina Increases Protections for Citizen Email Addresses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2010
General Assembly of North Carolina Increases Protections for Citizen Email Addresses
Local governments in Wake and Yadkin counties now have the authority to deny requests for copies of subscriber email lists. The idea for and request to work to change the law came from Town of Cary email list subscribers; the result of a recent scientific survey of Cary citizens showed that 88 percent supported having the Town pursue the effort, which was embraced by other Wake County communities and carried forward unanimously through the Legislature by Wake County’s Senators and Representatives. The NC Press Association worked on the legislation and did not object to the change.
While governments no longer have to provide copies of the email addresses, the subscriber lists remain open for public inspection for those who want to come to Town Hall to see them. Also, governments should only use the lists for the purpose for which the citizen subscribed to them or for emergency communications.
Read the new law, which is now in effect.
###
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
Deanna Boone, Deputy Public Information Officer, (919) 462-3908
Susan Moran, Public Information Director, (919) 460-4951
