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Washington state sues Motel 6
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:10 pm
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:10 pm
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) has sued Motel 6 for providing guest lists to federal immigration agents, Ferguson’s office said Wednesday.
The office began investigating Motel 6 after two of the low-cost chain’s locations in Arizona provided its guests’ personal information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Six additional locations in Washington provided the same information covering more than 9,100 guests to ICE agents, Ferguson’s office said.
“Washingtonians have a right to privacy, and protection from discrimination,” Ferguson said in a statement announcing the lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court. “I will hold Motel 6 accountable and uncover the whole story of their disturbing conduct.”
Motel 6 did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
The disclosures, including driver’s license numbers, birth dates and license plate numbers, violated Motel 6’s privacy policies, Ferguson’s office said. They also violated the Consumer Protection Act and Washington’s Law Against Discrimination, it added, asserting Motel 6 knew ICE agents were targeting customers with Hispanic last names.
ICE agents visiting one of the Washington locations, in south Everett, would obtain a guest list from the front desk, circle Latino-sounding names, and on one occasion detained someone staying at the hotel, Ferguson’s office said. The south Everett location gave out personal information 228 times in a 225-day period, according to the lawsuit.
The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled in the past that hotel guest registry information is private information, and that use by law enforcement organizations like ICE would violate the right to privacy enshrined in the state's constitution.
Ferguson’s office said it would ask the court to order Motel 6 to pay up to $2,000 for each customer’s information it gave to ICE agents — or at least $18.2 million, plus court costs and fees.
LINK
The office began investigating Motel 6 after two of the low-cost chain’s locations in Arizona provided its guests’ personal information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Six additional locations in Washington provided the same information covering more than 9,100 guests to ICE agents, Ferguson’s office said.
“Washingtonians have a right to privacy, and protection from discrimination,” Ferguson said in a statement announcing the lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court. “I will hold Motel 6 accountable and uncover the whole story of their disturbing conduct.”
Motel 6 did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
The disclosures, including driver’s license numbers, birth dates and license plate numbers, violated Motel 6’s privacy policies, Ferguson’s office said. They also violated the Consumer Protection Act and Washington’s Law Against Discrimination, it added, asserting Motel 6 knew ICE agents were targeting customers with Hispanic last names.
ICE agents visiting one of the Washington locations, in south Everett, would obtain a guest list from the front desk, circle Latino-sounding names, and on one occasion detained someone staying at the hotel, Ferguson’s office said. The south Everett location gave out personal information 228 times in a 225-day period, according to the lawsuit.
The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled in the past that hotel guest registry information is private information, and that use by law enforcement organizations like ICE would violate the right to privacy enshrined in the state's constitution.
Ferguson’s office said it would ask the court to order Motel 6 to pay up to $2,000 for each customer’s information it gave to ICE agents — or at least $18.2 million, plus court costs and fees.
LINK
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:13 pm to Jbird
Well, I think I agree with Washington state in this case.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:13 pm to Jbird
I thought tipping law enforcement was legal and encouraged.
This is confusing.
This is confusing.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:18 pm to TrueTiger
only if it suits the left agenda
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:18 pm to Jbird
Sounds like Motel 6 fricked up and Washington State is right.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:19 pm to BlackHelicopterPilot
quote:
Well, I think I agree with Washington state in this case.
If the basis of their search was "a Hispanic sounding name", yea I think they fricked up.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:22 pm to MSMHater
quote:
If the basis of their search was "a Hispanic sounding name", yea I think they fricked up.
And, IF (as the report indicates) the Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that the guest logs / info at hotels is considered "private"...then, the LEO would need a subpoena to get that info. The bullshite "fishing expedition" of getting EVERY guest's info and then looking for 'suspicious' names is frickERY.
This post was edited on 1/3/18 at 2:23 pm
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:24 pm to Jbird
Motel 6 owns the list, they have the right to share it, in the exact same way Facebook shares your personal info with advertisers.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:25 pm to Jbird
Motel 6 is the epitome of “you get what you pay for.”
I don’t have much expectation of privacy from any chain where I have been to locations with the clerk’s desk behind a bulletproof partition.
I don’t have much expectation of privacy from any chain where I have been to locations with the clerk’s desk behind a bulletproof partition.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:26 pm to BlackHelicopterPilot
quote:
And, IF (as the report indicates) the Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that the guest logs / info at hotels is considered "private"...then, the LEO would need a subpoena to get that info. The bullshite "fishing expedition" of getting EVERY guests info and then looking for 'suspicious' names is frickERY.
Would a federal LEO need a state subpoena for a federal activity (i.e. immigration/deportation)? Genuinely asking. Would Jeff Sessions need a CO subpoena to raid a weed shop under federal law? And I can't blame a motel shift manager for complying with overreaching federal authorities, though they probably had a deal going.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:28 pm to Jbird
I'd be interested to see what the result is here. Obviously, privacy wise, Washington State is in the right here. However, with so many companies sharing data with the government about all sorts of things, I'm wondering if this case will make strange bedfellows of a lot of left leaning tech companies.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:28 pm to MSMHater
quote:
Would a federal LEO need a state subpoena for a federal activity
I don't know. But, my guess is "yes". Besides, this is the STATE's attorney enforcing the STATE's law.
I am a State's Rights dude (uhh...POST 1865ish )
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:29 pm to cokebottleag
quote:Indeed.
I'd be interested to see what the result is here. Obviously, privacy wise, Washington State is in the right here. However, with so many companies sharing data with the government about all sorts of things, I'm wondering if this case will make strange bedfellows of a lot of left leaning tech companies.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:30 pm to cokebottleag
quote:
However, with so many companies sharing data with the government about all sorts of things, I'm wondering if this case will make strange bedfellows of a lot of left leaning tech companies.
I think a BIG difference is that the State Supreme Court has specifically ruled that Hotel registration are PRIVATE. I doubt that Facebook pages, etc have the same ruling.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:33 pm to Jbird
quote:
“Washingtonians have a right to privacy, and protection from discrimination,”
I don't think they were looking for legal residents of Washington, but okay.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:34 pm to Jbird
Just curious. Do any of you read the Privacy Statements sent to you by banks and such? I know I don’t because I don’t think anything is private any more.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:35 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
I don't think they were looking for legal residents of Washington, but okay.
Yes. But, the legal residents had THEIR info turned over, too.
It is like saying ICE can kick down YOUR front door because they weren't looking for YOU....just looking everywhere for illegals.
I am and "they have to go" guy. But, this is frickery and Fed Gov overreach
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:38 pm to BlackHelicopterPilot
quote:
I think a BIG difference is that the State Supreme Court has specifically ruled that Hotel registration are PRIVATE. I doubt that Facebook pages, etc have the same ruling.
I recall a SCOTUS case not long ago covering this very same issue in California, actually.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 2:39 pm to Jbird
quote:
The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled in the past that hotel guest registry information is private information,
I find this hard to believe if it includes names. Show me the law where you can't provide the names of people staying at your establishment at your choosing. I'm not saying Motel 6 should have freely given their guests names to law enforcement but i do think they have a legal choice to do so.
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