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$50 Milion for Violating Driver's Privacy in Florida

$50 Million Verdict for Violating Drivers’ Privacy in FL
A Florida bank was required to pay $50 million in a class-action settlement resulting from violations of federal privacy law. Fidelity Federal Bank & Trust purchased 656,600 names and addresses from the Florida DMV for use in direct marketing. The purchase violated the Drivers Privacy Protection Act, a 1993 law passed after it was shown that stalkers and other criminals had used motor vehicle records to locate their victims. EPIC filed a “friend of the court” brief in favor of the plaintiffs before the Eleventh Circuit, arguing that the penalties provided by the law create a necessary incentive for both states and private entities to preserve the privacy of drivers’ personal information. For more information, see EPIC’s Kehoe v. Fidelity Federal Bank and Trust page. (Aug. 28)

Wow. $50 million. Pretty soon, we’ll be talking about real money. Quote from an unlinkable blurb on EPIC’s home page.

2 comments on "$50 Milion for Violating Driver's Privacy in Florida"

  • Alethea says:

    Hey, Adam, good move for Microsoft. Your mum’s real proud, too.
    It’s like citizen politics. Why whinge about it when you can go in there and make things better?
    Drop a line if you get a chance and recognize me 😉

  • Will says:

    It fascinates me that in all the discussion of this matter, the focus has been on the bank’s having illegally PURCHASED drivers’ information from the Florida DMV.
    It seems to me that the SALE of such information is equally questionable. What, if anything, is being done to rein in the Florida DMV’s practices?
    I’m pleased that one culprit has been found liable for a hugely costly outcome, one that I hope cannot merely be absorbed as ‘just a cost of doing business’.
    But in this tango, there’s never just one dancer whose footwork is faulty. The music won’t stop until all parties risk having to pay the piper.
     

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