RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union is filing a motion to intervene in an Amazon.com lawsuit and trying to stop North Carolina tax collectors from gathering personal data on online buyers.
The ACLU asked a federal court in Seattle on Wednesday to join the lawsuit. The civil rights group says the state Revenue Department’s demand for information is unconstitutional.
The department wants to collect state taxes on products purchased online. It has asked Amazon for the names and addresses of buyers and a description of their purchases.
The ACLU says it is stepping into the case on behalf of several North Carolina residents who worry releasing the data would violate their rights to free speech and privacy.
