DOJ subpoenas Zuckerberg-linked nonprofits over alleged misuse of voter motor-vehicle data
The Justice Department has ordered two nonprofits tied to Mark Zuckerberg to produce records on how they obtained and used voter data from state motor-vehicle agencies, citing possible violations of the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.
The Justice Department has issued subpoenas to ERIC and CEIR, two nonprofits connected to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, seeking detailed records of their acquisition and use of voter data supplied by state motor-vehicle departments. The request follows a Homeland Security alert that the data exchange might violate the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act by exposing personal identifiers such as Social Security and driver’s license numbers to unknown contractors.
ERIC, which assists states in maintaining voter rolls, and CEIR, a grant-making organization funded heavily by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, are accused of possibly using the information for partisan outreach rather than legitimate government functions. DHS estimates that at least nine states transferred data covering more than 48 million registered voters, with the total likely higher when accounting for unregistered motorists.
Both nonprofits were founded by former government lawyer David Becker, who also leads the progressive group People for the American Way. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward emphasized that using DPPA-protected data for partisan aims is not permitted, regardless of state consent.
