Judge: Amazon Doesn't Have to Give Customer Names to North Carolina

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In what can be viewed as a victory for internet privacy advocates everywhere, U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman ruled yesterday that Amazon.com does not have to turn over customer information, including names and addresses to the North Carolina Department of Revenue. Citing a violation of Amazon’s first amendment rights the judge says North Carolina’s request went too far.

North Carolina had requested the files as a way to find out which North Carolina residents had made purchases with the internet giant in an apparent bid to collect sales tax after the fact. Like many states hurting in this economy, North Carolina was looking for inventive ways to add revenue to its coffers. Right now, most states do not receive sales tax revenue from internet sales if one of the participants is across state lines. Amazon had originally turned over the titles of books that had been purchased from residents of North Carolina but balked when the state wanted additional personal information.