Legal Insurrection: Meanwhile, DMV data breach exposed thousands of drivers’ information.
A new investigative report by Vice shows the California Department of Motor Vehicles is selling drivers’ personal information, earning tens of millions of dollars.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles is generating revenue of $50,000,000 a year through selling drivers’ personal information, according to a DMV document obtained by Motherboard.
DMVs across the country are selling data that drivers are required to provide to the organization in order to obtain a license. This information includes names, physical addresses, and car registration information. California’s sales come from a state which generally scrutinizes privacy to a higher degree than the rest of the country.
In a public record acts request, Motherboard asked the California DMV for the total dollar amounts paid by commercial requesters of data for the past six years. The responsive document shows the total revenue in financial year 2013/14 as $41,562,735, before steadily climbing to $52,048,236 in the financial year 2017/18. more
Commiefornia has monetized everything. They need it to pay for billions of dollars of “free stuff” for illegals.
Class action lawsuit anyone?
Public officials should be held to high standard of trust when it comes to private information.
California has destroyed any and all inherent public trust in official government agencies and documentation! Class Action lawsuit? Yes absolutely… followed by torches and pitchforks!
… and while we’re at it, shut off the big Federal spigot to those assholes too!
Ever get an offer for extended warranty by phone or email?
Selling motor vehicle records is not unique to California, but the dollar amount may be.
Mr. Cooper, you are spot on.
Friends of mine over 60 have been getting junk mail for hearing aids, retirement homes, cemetery plots, etc. for the past four years since Pennsylvania began selling DMV records.
One of my friends has a collection of 48 cars (not antique). He finally had to change his phone number to one the DMV has no record of. PITA
I’d bet cash money that within the application for a drivers license (or anything issued by the DMV) are some legal weasel words that will confuse the ordinary person but give them carte blanche to do what they want with your data. A class action suit may not stop them from selling your data but a class action suit demanding your cut of the profit might just do that. However they may have been as smart as these Geneology tracing companies that state that they now own your DNA should you sign up. Privacy it seems, is becoming a thing of the past like buggy whips and freedom of speech.
Sylvia,
I could have paved my driveway with snail mail ads for mobility scooters.
Look for the kickbacks to the Democrat politiciana who enabled this.
Gangsters literally run our government.
I suspect the CA DMV gives the Democrats the info so they can get absentee ballots printed out for the illegal aliens the DMV automatically registered to vote. Ballot harvesters got to harvest.
Step 1: “Opt-Out” of all people search / open records websites.
Step 2: Search your name on the internet and find it scrubbed.
Step 3: Move to a new state and stay with family.
Step 4: Go get a new driver’s license.
Step 5: Check the internet, and your name pops up on all those people search engines all over again with your new address.
The DMV absolutely sells your personal information.
I am up for class action, just point me in the right direction