Legal Definitions - Rhode Island

In the context of legal regulation, "Rhode Island" refers to a set of specific state laws enacted to govern commercial communications and address computer-related crimes within the state. These statutes aim to protect residents from unwanted solicitations and digital misconduct.

Specifically, Rhode Island law addresses:

• Commercial Email and Spam: Regulations found in R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-47-2, which set rules for sending commercial electronic messages, often requiring clear identification of the sender and an easy way to opt out.
• Telemarketing and Telephonic Anti-Solicitation: The Telephone Sales Solicitation Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 5-61-1 et seq.) governs how businesses can conduct sales calls, including provisions for "do not call" lists and restrictions on automated calls.
• Fax Anti-Solicitation: R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-47-1 prohibits sending unsolicited advertisements or solicitations via fax.
• Computer-Related Crime: Statutes such as R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-52-1, 11-52-4.1, and 11-52-6 define and penalize various offenses involving computers, including unauthorized access, data theft, and disruption of computer systems.

Here are some examples illustrating how these Rhode Island laws apply:

• Example 1 (Telemarketing Anti-Solicitation): A resident of Providence, Rhode Island, has registered their home phone number on the state's "do not call" list. Despite this, they repeatedly receive automated calls from a company attempting to sell extended car warranties. The resident could potentially file a complaint under Rhode Island's Telephone Sales Solicitation Act, as the company may be violating the state's regulations against unsolicited telemarketing calls to numbers on the "do not call" registry.

• Example 2 (Commercial Email and Spam): A small business based in Newport, Rhode Island, sends out a marketing email blast to potential customers. The email does not include a physical mailing address for the sender, nor does it provide a clear, functional link for recipients to unsubscribe from future emails. This practice could violate R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-47-2, which requires commercial emails to include specific identifying information and an opt-out mechanism to prevent unsolicited "spam" communications.

• Example 3 (Computer-Related Crime): An individual in Warwick, Rhode Island, gains unauthorized access to a local medical clinic's patient database by exploiting a security vulnerability. They then attempt to download sensitive patient records, including names, addresses, and medical histories, with the intent to sell this information. This action would constitute a computer-related crime under Rhode Island law, specifically falling under statutes like R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-52-1 or 11-52-4.1, which prohibit unauthorized access to computer systems and the theft of data.