Blockshopper
I had a closing on a condo only 4 weeks ago. I found an “article” on blockshopper.com about the sale. The article tells what I paid and who the seller was. The article also lifted my bio and photo from my work site too. I wrote to all three people listed on the blockshopper contact…
I had a closing on a condo only 4 weeks ago. I found an “article” on blockshopper.com about the sale. The article tells what I paid and who the seller was. The article also lifted my bio and photo from my work site too. I wrote to all three people listed on the blockshopper contact list but not one has replied. Should I contact the Attorney General in the state of blockshopper’s hq? What can I do to get this “article” off the internet? Thank you. PS I have an order of protection against a relative and this is why I don’t want my new address on the internet. My relative has been declared persona non grata by my employer (a large institution).
Years ago, you could go to the deeds office to get this stuff but no one probably bothered. Now everyone can know what I and my husband spent on our house last year. Fortunately, we don’t have too much info about us on the tubes, or we weren’t interesting enough to cobble together an article.
Nonetheless, I’ve wondered if folks that have not been able to contact me (and who I don’t really want to deal with) might show up out of the woodwork someday.
Disagree with other posters–this is total BS. Definitely worth bringing it to the AG’s attention. Also worth bringing it to the attention of your local legislator (Assembly and Senate), and your local council member. Would also mention this to any organization that works in domestic violence.
And go through the stories on the website. Email the people in them. I’m sure they have no idea someone is doing this to them.
It’s nonsense to suggest that laws which served to protect privacy in the non-computer age are sufficient for the information age. I mean, if stuff like this ends up the new standard of privacy, fine. But that should be something that we debate and have input on, and that people know about so they can try and take precautions. It shouldn’t be something that just happens because we’re working off laws that existed before google.
Personally I think we need to revisit some of the documents that are made available with no restriction over the internet–in particular ACRIS. Not sure why the entire world needs to be able to see my mortgage online. But, agree with the other folks, seems like blockshopper.com is just compiling information that’s in the public domain.
If all they have done is published (and repackaged) information already in the public domain, then they are not in breach. As someone above has said in NYC all property transactions as well as mortgages are recorded on ACRIS and easily searchable by anyone.
While what they are doing might feel like an invasion of privacy all they’ve done is make the information easier to access. In a way this is no different than Streeteasy or PropertyShark although Blockshopper writes a ‘story’ as opposed to merely displaying data in its raw form.
If protection of your address was important to you then the condo purchase should have been done by an LLC you control.
It’s now way too late to close this door, this horse has already bolted.
In the old days the landed gentry wanted to be known…
Wow, I just looked at that site, they actually linked to a buyers wedding announcement in the NYT’s . WTF does that have to do with real estate? TMI
as others point out purchase and sale information is within the public domain and is news subject to reporting. Putting your personal information on a site that is unprotected means it can be viewed and reported on. However if that site is copy right protected using your picture for commercial purposes without permission it is a violation of NY law. Using your published picture as part of a news article may or may not be a violation. It depends on whether they have lifted the picture or done it by attaching a link. While you can contact the State’s AG who is very interested in privacy issues you may also want to talk with an attorney who specializes in copyright issues…
Privacy is only invaded when non public protected information is used. Since all the info was publicly available or posted by you or your company in the public domain your rights are somewhat limited.
This is disturbing. Is there any way to have it removed?
you know, that this is a public info. YOu can find it on trulia.com. More important: you can find it on nyc.gov/finance or from the DOB website.
Another interesting fact: people can google your email address and find so much interesting stuff.