TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) wants the federal government to look into Florida’s practice of selling residents’ personal information to private companies.
Nelson has sent Attorney General Loretta Lynch a letter asking her to look into it.
Nelson said that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has sold the personal information of more than 15 million licensed Florida drivers to at least 75 companies over the past two years.
The state was paid more than $150 million for the information.
“In this new era, when identity thieves are causing real damage to millions of hardworking families, the fact that the state is making a profit by selling Floridians’ personal information on the open market is simply unconscionable,” Nelson wrote.
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director, Terry L. Rhodes released the following statement on Friday:
“The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) does not sell driver or motor vehicle information. Driver or motor vehicle information is produced as required by the Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and Florida’s public records laws.”
