Purpose

This bill would create a new civil remedy for the dissemination of personal information. It aims to hold people accountable when they knowingly share someone’s personal information (including information about that person’s family or household member) in a way that creates an imminent and serious threat to safety. It complements existing laws by allowing damages and other relief for affected individuals.

Main Provisions

• Creation of a new civil cause of action under a new section (linked to existing definitions in Minnesota law) for disseminating personal information.
• Definitions: Uses the meanings of "family or household member" and "personal information" as defined in current statute (609.5151).
• Liability standard: A person who knowingly and without consent disseminates or makes publicly available personal information about an individual or the individual's family or household member, when such public availability poses an imminent and serious threat to safety, and the disseminator knows or reasonably should know of the threat, may be held liable.
• Damages and relief: A prevailing plaintiff may receive actual and special damages (including mental anguish), a civil penalty up to $10,000, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees. The court may also award equitable relief as appropriate.
• Exceptions (liability not imposed):
  • For information dissemination in lawful criminal investigations or prosecutions.
  • For good faith reporting of unlawful conduct believed to have occurred.
  • When dissemination serves a matter of public interest and a lawful public purpose.
  • For information shared in legal proceedings or in accordance with civil practice necessary for the criminal justice system, or protected by a court order.
  • The measure does not modify protections under federal law (47 U.S.C. § 230) and should be interpreted consistently with federal law.
  • The action does not bar use of any other available remedies.
• Jurisdiction: Courts have jurisdiction if either party resides in Minnesota.
• Venue: Actions may be filed in the defendant’s or plaintiff’s county of residence, or other specified venues (including where the dissemination occurred or where stored), and when applicable, the plaintiff’s designated address if they participate in an address confidentiality program.
• Statute of limitations: The time limit for filing is tolled (paused) until the plaintiff discovers that the dissemination has occurred.
• Confidential filings: Courts may allow confidential or redacted filings and can issue protective orders to protect the plaintiff’s privacy.

How This Changes Existing Law

• Establishes a new civil remedy specifically for dissemination of personal information that creates an imminent safety threat, expanding beyond criminal or other existing protections.
• Ties the civil action to the definitions used in current law (609.5151) and situates the remedy within Minnesota’s civil procedure framework (including venue, tolling, and protective orders).
• Maintains alignment with federal law, including the protections found in 47 U.S.C. § 230.

Practical Impact and Who Is Affected

• Individuals who have had their personal information (or that of their family or household member) publicly shared in a way that creates an imminent threat may pursue damages and other relief.
• Potential responses include monetary damages, civil penalties, and court-ordered protections.
• Online platforms and others handling personal information may see increased liability if their actions contribute to the harmful dissemination.

Terminology and Key Concepts (Important terms the bill uses)

• Dissemination of personal information
• Personal information
• Family or household member
• Imminent and serious threat
• Knowledge or reasonable belief of threat
• Actual and special damages
• Mental anguish
• Civil penalty
• Equitable relief
• Confidential filings / protective orders
• Jurisdiction and venue
• Statute of limitations tolled
• Good faith reporting
• Public interest
• Criminal investigation or prosecution
• Court order
• 47 U.S.C. § 230 (federal protection reference)
• Through the Internet (online dissemination)

Relevant Terms - dissemination of personal information - personal information - family or household member - imminent and serious threat - civil action - damages (actual, special, mental anguish) - civil penalty (up to $10,000) - equitable relief - jurisdiction - venue - statute of limitations tolled - confidential filings - protective orders - good faith reporting - public interest - criminal investigation - court order - 47 U.S.C. § 230 - Internet / online dissemination