Lawmakers renew push for greater privacy
CONCORD, N.H. --Lawmakers pushing a range of bills aimed at protecting privacy say they hope to benefit from a shift in public awareness about their concerns.
Rep. Neal Kurk, R-Weare, one of the Legislature's fiercest privacy advocates, has proposed several measures meant to protect New Hampshire residents from a variety of technological intrusions. This year, he's not alone.
"I'm very pleased that so many other people are recognizing that one of the consequences of technological change has been intrusions on what used to be protected, not by statute but by the inability to invade privacy," he said. "But as that has changed, people have become much more sensitive to it and a lot more folks are introducing legislation."
At the top of Kurk's list is a second try at preventing the state from participating in the federal government's Real ID program. The House passed a measure he co-sponsored last year to reject Real ID, but the Senate refused to negotiate a compromise version.
Kurk believes the bill "was the victim of a game of political chicken," but may have a better chance now given the heightened public interest in privacy issues.
He also has submitted proposals for bills requiring companies to provide notice if tracking devices are used on consumer protects, banning "pretexting" to obtain personal information and allowing consumers to opt out of cell phone directories. He also believes the timing might be right to study a Constitutional amendment on personal privacy.
"Over the past 20 years I've been in the Legislature, there has been a major shift in awareness and sensitivity to privacy issues," he said.
A bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Ryan, D-Franklin, would create a committee to study whether a privacy amendment should be added to the state Constitution.
Ryan, who teaches political science at New England College, said the issue needs to be approached cautiously, "not only because it's a Constitutional amendment but because the technology changes as rapidly as you can catch up with it."
Other lawmakers are seeking to protect privacy on a narrower scale. Rep. Robert L'Heureux, R-Merrimack, has a bill to tweak a new law that prevents someone from observing or recording what goes on inside a person's home. He said the 2005 legislation, which came out of a feud between neighbors in his town, didn't go far enough.
This time, he wants to expand the protection to prevent anyone from videotaping another person's private property or residence.
"Privacy doesn't exist anymore, and we have to return to it," he said.
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Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader, http://www.unionleader.com
