Massachusetts law about privacy

Massachusetts laws

MGL c.93H Security breaches

MGL c.214, § 1B Right of privacy

Massachusetts regulations

940 CMR 27 Safeguard of Personal Information

Massachusetts Executive Orders

EO 504 Order Regarding the Security and Confidentiality of Personal Information
Addresses the collection and dissemination of personal information by state agencies

Court rules and orders

Supreme Judicial Court Order Regarding the Protection of Personal Information. This Order governs the security and confidentiality of personal information as defined by c. 93H in the Judicial Branch.  

Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:24: Protection of personal identifying information in publicly accessible court documents

Trial Court Uniform Rules on Impoundment Procedure

Selected cases

Polay v McMahon, 468 Mass 379 (2014) 
Neighbor pointing video camera at another neighbor’s property may be an intrusion of privacy.

 

Web sources

Impoundment Procedures in the Massachusetts Appellate Courts: An Introduction, Mass. Appeals Court, 2012
A guide to impoundment procedures including a general overview of governing authorities and some practical tips.

Massachusetts Recording Law, Digital Media Law Project
Outlines the laws regarding taping telephone calls, public meetings and court proceedings

Massachusetts Right of Publicity Law, Digital Media Law Project
Summarizes state law on the use of a person's name, portrait or picture

Privacy and Security, Federal Trade Commission
Includes links to a wide variety of financial privacy sources, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

Impoundment Sources: List of Authorities Designating Material as Impounded, Confidential, or Not Available for Public Inspection, Mass. Appeals Court, June 2015.
"The following list is an overview of the material that a statute, court rule, or standing order designates must be withheld as “impounded,” “withheld from public inspection,” “not available for public inspection,” “confidential,” “segregated,” or “sealed.”"

Print sources

Massachusetts Superior Court civil practice jury instructions, MCLE, loose-leaf. Chapter 7, Invasion of privacy

Massachusetts practice series, Summary of basic law,  Thomson Reuters, volume 14D, chapter 16 Torts; A. Invasion of privacy
The author gives an excellent discussion of the topic with multiple citations to cases.

 

Last updated:	February 3, 2020