§ 671. Declaration of legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds and declares that the viewing of rented video tapes and movies in the home is a popular and widespread leisure pastime. Innumerable retail establishments in this state commonly record, often by computer, data containing the identities of consumers who have rented video tapes and movies and the titles of the videos rented. The large amounts of personally identifiable information collected by such establishments, and the possibility of public dissemination of that information, pose a serious threat to the personal privacy of New Yorkers and is therefore a matter of state concern.

It is the intent of the legislature by enactment of this article to protect the personal privacy of individuals and their families who rent video cassette tapes and movies and similar audio visual materials, without unreasonably restricting the ability of video tape service providers to collect and use information as is necessary to conducting their businesses.