In the U.S., a number of DMV’s—departments of motor vehicles—are selling the personal data of drivers to third parties, including insurance companies, private investigators, vehicle manufacturers, and prospective employers.

In 2019, Oregon’s DMV earned $11.5 million, while California’s DMV reportedly earned $51 million. The State of New York sells license and vehicle information and earns roughly $2.2 million a year via pay-per-search as well as the sale of records.

States are also beginning to update their laws governing how personal data can be used. For example, Vermont in 2018 passed a law that requires data brokers to disclose which data are being collected and to allow people to opt out.