Legal Question in Civil Litigation in New York
Personal Rights
I would like to know if New York has a law that allows local newspaper to put a persons personal information such as name, address, and age without that persons consent?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Personal Rights
Unfortunately,the answer is yes..and no. It depends upn the circumstances and no facts have been provided.
Sorry not to be able to be of more assistance.
Regards,
RRG
Re: Personal Rights
Generally, our law allows the reporting of publicly-available information under what is called free speech. The First Amendment to U.S. Constitution says Congress shall make no law abridging that right. Under N.Y. law, the only prohibition I am aware of is in NY Civil Rights Law Sec. 51, which only bars the publication for commercial purpose of a person's photo. It is my understanding a local newspaper can almost always report your name, address, and whatever else isn't confidential. Of course, the MANNER in which something is reported may well present questions of whether you were placed in a false light, a form of libel (defamation), but you haven't mentioned anything which would suggest that.