Borders Books Sells Private Customer Information

Consumer privacy is a concern this week after the nation’s largest book retailer, , purchased customer information from its former competitor, the now defunct Borders retail chain.  

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal responded to the event by calling for tighter restrictions to protect consumer privacy.

“Profiting from personal, sometimes sensitive consumer information – illustrated by this regrettable arrangement – is spreading perniciously,” Blumenthal said in a statement.

“This settlement points to a clear and urgent need for stronger and stringent protections for consumer privacy. The settlement reached between Borders and Barnes and Noble is wholly inadequate and unacceptable," Blumenthal added. 

Barnes and Noble CEO William Lynch announced the news in a mass email to Borders' 48 million customers and in a posting on Barnes & Noble's website after a federal bankruptcy court approved the sale Sept. 26.

Both Lynch and Blumenthal said former Borders customers could opt out of having their data transferred to Barnes & Nobel, but they must do so by Oct. 29 by visiting www.bn.com/borders.

For those who elect not to opt out, Lynch said Barnes & Noble’s handling of the information would be governed by the company’s privacy policy.

Borders announced in February that it was closing 200 stores including its Meriden location as part of bankruptcy proceedings. Prior to its demise, Borders had been the second largest book retailer in the nation, tailing only Barnes & Noble.