Bill Would Protect Email Addresses Collected By DMV
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - A Senate proposal filed Monday would prevent the release of a driver's email address on file with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
The bill, filed by the Senate Transportation Committee, would create a public-records exemption for email addresses collected by the department as it conducts business involving vehicle records and driver licenses.
The bill said the use of motorists' email addresses in conducting such business has "significantly increased since 1994" and pointed to concerns about issues such as identity theft.
"Under current law, the electronic mail addresses collected by the department are public records and can be obtained by anyone for any purpose,'' the bill says. "However, such electronic mail addresses are unique to the individual and, when combined with other personal identifying information, can be used for identity theft, consumer scams, unwanted solicitations, or other invasive contacts. The public availability of personal electronic mail addresses puts department customers at increased risk of these activities. This risk may be significantly limited by permitting the department to keep customer electronic mail addresses confidential."
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.