City Files Restraining Order After Releasing Thousands of Retiree's Social Security Numbers

City Files Restraining Order After Releasing Thousands of Retiree's Social Security Numbers

Lawyers for the city of Providence on Tuesday filed a restraining order against GoLocalProv after the city accidentally released the Social Security numbers of nearly 3,000 former employees in response to a public records request.

A city spokesman was informed of the mistake shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday and said he would provide a statement after consulting with city lawyers. Instead, the city went to Superior Court in an attempt to prevent any story from being written.

Despite GoLocalProv explaining to the city both over the phone and through e-mail that it never intended to post any retiree’s Social Security numbers, the city requested that all records be destroyed and asked that the website refrain from publishing anything regarding the document. In court, Assistant City Solicitor Kevin F. McHugh argued that the numbers posed potentially "irreparable damage," to the city's retirees, especially in a "9/11" world.

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GoLocalProv agreed that all documents should be destroyed, but Judge Sarah Taft-Cater said she did not see sufficient justification to bar publication of a story--so long as no sensitive personal information was disclosed.

"I know it's embarrassing for the city," she said. “But I'm not sure if that's the standard."

The full story will be available tomorrow morning on GoLocalProv.