(NewsGlobal.com)- It has been discovered that the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is selling the personal information of drivers without the drivers’ consent or an opt-out mechanism. As reported by WRTV, the BMV has made about $25 million in the last year through the selling of customer data.
WRTV conducted an inquiry into whether or not the Indiana BMV sells personal information and found that it did. The BMV may sell your personal information, including your name, date of birth, address history, license plate number, car make and model, VIN, date of purchase, license type, and driving record. This data might be shared with other parties.
From 2012 to 2022, the BMV made about $237 million from selling driver’s license information. The company sells customers’ confidential details to the likes of police departments, PI firms, debt collectors, recovery agents, car lots, towing services, universities, and mobile home parks.
Buyers outside of the legal industry include bail bond agencies, insurance companies, private investigation firms, and attorneys.
A private investigator in Indianapolis, claims that he makes payments to the BMV in exchange for things like titles, registrations, and driver’s license data, which aids businesses in conducting background checks on in-house staff.
He claims the BMV double-checks his paperwork before handing out the data to ensure he’s using it for lawful commercial purposes.
So, you need to be responsible,” he remarked. You can’t simply purchase the data and use it anyway you want, as the saying goes.
The Indianapolis law firm Cohen and Malad was among those discovered by WRTV Investigates to have paid for access.
Data is only provided to eligible businesses that fulfill the eligibility and usage criteria in the Indiana Code, a state spokesman said in an email.
In response to a question about how the revenue from data sales is allocated, the BMV said the income earned from selling the data to eligible enterprises goes to many accounts within the BMV, mostly the Tech Fund.”
The contributions allow for the upkeep and upgrading of the infrastructure, databases, and security.
