Suit: Boston Globe Uses Drivers' Private Records to Send Junk Mail

The Boston Globe's advertising arm violates federal privacy laws by obtaining and then using Massachusetts motorists' names and addresses without their consent to mail them ads and solicitations, a federal court lawsuit says.

Defendant Globe Direct LLC is the direct-mail unit of Boston Globe Media, which consists of multiple media outlets including the Boston Globe newspaper and the New England Sports Network.

Matthew Downing, a Massachusetts resident whose car is registered with the state's Registry of Motor Vehicles, filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware after receiving a mailing from Globe Direct in May.

The company is based in Boston but is organized under Delaware law.

The suit alleges that Globe Direct violates the Drivers Privacy Protection Act, which prohibits the use of personal information for sending out bulk-mail advertisements without the recipient's express written consent.

Downing contends that he and millions of other motorists never gave consent to receive the Globe Direct material. The defendant began using the information from the RMV in January, according to the complaint.

Downing seeks a declaration that the defendant has violated federal law and injunctive relief on behalf of all those who have or will have their personal information obtained from the RMV and used by Globe Direct without their approval.

Boston Globe Vice President Bob Powers declined to comment on the lawsuit. Boston Globe Media is owned by the New York Times Co.

To comment, ask questions or contribute articles, contact West.Andrews.Editor@ThomsonReuters.com.

Downing is represented by Norman M. Monhait of Rosenthal Monhait & Goddess in Wilmington, Del.