In a joint letter led by Senator Ron Wyden and Rep. Adriano Espaillat, 40 Democratic congress members are pressing 19 states to block federal agencies like ICE from accessing driver’s license and registration data. This request follows states such as New York and Illinois that have withdrawn from the NIets data-sharing agreements. The lawmakers argue that blocking access will enhance public safety and reduce the potential for misuse of sensitive data by federal officials.
The letter highlights that between October 2024 and October 2025, NIets processed over 290 million requests for state DMV data, including significant numbers from ICE and Homeland Security Investigations. This raises concerns about the implications of such data being available for broad surveillance operations. The members emphasize that while federal law enforcement will still have access to necessary information for serious investigations, increased accountability and oversight of data requests is essential to protect citizens from potential abuses. They underscore the need for state officials to grasp the complexities of these data systems, citing that many may be unaware of the extent of their state’s data sharing with federal agencies.
👉 Pročitaj original: CyberScoop
