Yes, scraping public data in Vermont is generally permissible, but strict adherence to state and federal laws is required. Vermont’s Public Records Act (VPR) permits access to government-held data, yet automated scraping may trigger restrictions under the Vermont Consumer Protection Act or federal CFAA if systems are bypassed.
Key Regulations for Scraping Public Data in Vermont
- Vermont Public Records Act (1975, amended 2023): Public agencies must disclose records upon request, but large-scale scraping may violate “reasonable access” provisions if it disrupts operations. Agencies can deny requests deemed excessive under 1 V.S.A. § 317(c).
- Vermont Consumer Protection Act (9 V.S.A. § 2451): Prohibits deceptive or unfair trade practices, including circumventing technical barriers to scrape data. Violations may incur penalties up to $10,000 per offense under 9 V.S.A. § 2461.
- Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) Compliance: Federal law applies if scraping involves unauthorized access to systems. Vermont courts have not yet ruled on CFAA’s application to public data scraping, but federal precedents (e.g., hiQ Labs v. LinkedIn) suggest liability risks persist.
Practical Considerations
Vermont’s 2026 budget allocates $1.2M to the Office of the Secretary of State for digital transparency initiatives, signaling stricter enforcement of automated data access. Entities must:
- Avoid scraping systems protected by CAPTCHAs or rate-limiting.
- Comply with agency-specific terms of service, even for public data.
- Consult the Vermont Open Government Advisory Board (est. 2024) for guidance on permissible access methods.