Lawmakers Want California DMV To Disclose Who It Is Selling Driver Data To

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out the number one buyer of these basic data is.

The insurance industry. Both auto and property groups would be keen to have it. Next I would guess automakers. And then makers of motorcycles and RV's. And I am sure somewhere on that list are car parts and car accessories and even cleaning manufacturers.

So before you put on your MAGA hat and get all twisted in a knot about FAANG companies buying, do some real thinking instead.

The problem is it is State collected data and there are no opt out agreements. So the protection you have as a consumer is not there.

The data was never meant to be public but is being sold anyways without oversight.

In fairness to consumers it really should never be sold. You need to have a license to drive a car. The DMV should not really be put in a position to profit from it. These are non-profit government agencies and this data should be subject to the same protections as you medical data.

I do agree with you on this one!

but data collected by a State was (supposed) to be for "record/file" only. and only be used for State & Local government purposes of confirmation/verification. so States (selling) these records to non-govt entities should be illegal.

but the loophole is - that States/Local govts pay contract-companies to setup & maintain data collection systems/devices/etc...but there's probably mouse-print policies that state that these contractors can use/sell the data collected by their own systems.

so Congress trying to drop the axe on FAANG should affect every company online that collects user data. but i distinctly remember - years ago - that these same types of discussions happened when the public started to question how (social media) companies like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc generated revenue - with only free site memberships. And they made it clear - in their EULA (end use legal agreements) - that each person registering to their site agrees (checkbox indicating you read the policies & agree to the terms for use) for the company to collect some amount of user data. And this data collection offset general or basic costs for the company to maintain & improve content & security. Then data collection became this huge monster of demand as the major social media sites became larger with registered users.

If it's something that violates the US Constitution then California will do it in spades.

Why are they selling this data at all? Totally BS. Lawmakers should put a stop to this pronto! At a minimum it should be clearly spelled out and require your consent. I suppose some fools could want to get mail and phone calls from a zillion insurance agents.

California lawmakers? Ha!
Trying to catch crooks in radical liberal socialistic California is like have the fox guard the hen house.

And while they want to take away our gun rights, they ride around heavily protected because they know they'd deservedly get their asses shot to death if they practiced with they preached.

Garcetti, who kept encouraging terrorist to burn LA to the ground under the guise it was peaceful protest, pissed his pants when a handful of peaceful protesters showed up at his house to protest peacefully on public property and damn near called the LAPD riot squad.

Newsom has pulled the same shit with peaceful protesters on public property adjacent to his properties.

You think California is bad, Florida is 10 times worse...The amount of junk mail that I get every year, from just registering my car is ridiculous, and don't let me even get started on when I got my first ticket...it was unreal...