Yes, scraping public data in Maryland is generally permissible, provided it complies with state and federal laws, including the Maryland Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).
Publicly accessible data—such as government records, court filings, or legislative documents—may be scraped unless restricted by terms of service, copyright, or privacy laws. However, the Maryland Attorney General’s 2024 enforcement guidance warns against scraping personal data without consent, particularly under PIPA’s expanded 2026 amendments. The Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) permits access to non-exempt public records but does not explicitly address scraping methods, leaving interpretation to courts. Businesses must also navigate the CFAA’s prohibition on unauthorized access, which courts have applied to aggressive scraping tactics.
Key Regulations for Scraping Public Data in Maryland
- Maryland Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA): Prohibits scraping or processing personal data without explicit consent, with stricter penalties effective January 1, 2026. Businesses must anonymize or pseudonymize scraped data to avoid violations.
- Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA): Grants access to public records but does not endorse scraping; agencies may block automated requests if they disrupt operations. Requesters must adhere to reasonable limits on frequency and format.
- Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA): Federal law criminalizes accessing computer systems without authorization. Maryland courts have applied this to web scraping cases where terms of service or technical barriers (e.g., CAPTCHAs) were bypassed.