Yes, scraping public data in Wyoming is generally permissible under state law, provided it complies with federal privacy statutes and avoids unauthorized access under the Wyoming Computer Crimes Act. Public records laws (Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-201 et seq.) mandate transparency, but automated extraction must not circumvent technical barriers or violate terms of service.
Key Regulations for Scraping Public Data in Wyoming
- Wyoming Public Records Act (WPRA): Mandates disclosure of government-held data upon request, but does not explicitly address automated scraping. Agencies may restrict bulk requests under § 16-4-203(d), requiring justification for high-volume access.
- Wyoming Computer Crimes Act (Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-501 et seq.): Prohibits unauthorized access to computer systems. Scrapers risk liability if they bypass login gates or exploit vulnerabilities, even for public data.
- Federal Overlays: Compliance with the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and Wiretap Act remains critical. Wyoming courts defer to federal precedent, as seen in HiQ Labs v. LinkedIn (2019), which upheld scraping of publicly viewable data absent circumvention.
Critical Considerations for 2026 Compliance: Wyoming’s 2025 legislative session introduced House Bill 102, proposing amendments to WPRA to explicitly regulate automated data extraction. Entities must monitor Wyoming’s Department of Enterprise Technology Services (DETS) for forthcoming guidance on API-based scraping protocols. Failure to align with emerging standards risks enforcement under § 6-3-507 (unauthorized computer use).