St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, accessible online at stltoday.com, is the largest daily newspaper serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. Owned by Lee Enterprises, the site's primary function is to provide local and national news, sports coverage, and community information. It also publishes personal information through news articles, feature stories, and detailed obituaries, which can include names, locations, relationships, and personal histories. While not a traditional data broker, the publication of this personal information creates a permanent, searchable record that can be accessed by anyone. This public exposure can pose privacy risks, as details from news reports or obituaries could be exploited for fraud, identity theft, or unwanted contact. The parent company, Lee Enterprises, recently settled a class-action lawsuit concerning subscriber privacy violations, highlighting concerns over how user data is handled. Individuals can protect themselves by being mindful of the information they share publicly and understanding that news publications are a matter of public record.