You’d expect companies to profit off your personal data. It’s practically the price of using the internet. But when the government, the very institution meant to protect your rights, quietly sells your information to third parties? That’s a different kind of betrayal.
In recent years, multiple government agencies—local, state, and federal—have come under fire for selling or sharing data without properly informing the public. These aren’t isolated accidents. They’re part of a growing trend where public information becomes private profit, often with zero transparency.
While many officials argue it’s legal or even beneficial, what’s often missing is informed consent. The result? Your address, income, health records, and even biometric data could already be in the hands of marketers, banks, or surveillance firms without you ever clicking “Agree.”
Here are 8 disturbing examples of when government agencies sold or shared your data without your knowledge.
1. DMVs Selling Driver Data to Private Companies
One of the most notorious examples is the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In multiple states, DMVs were caught selling driver data—including names, addresses, and driving records—to thousands of third parties, including insurance companies, private investigators, and data brokers.
A 2019 investigation revealed that DMVs in several states had generated millions in revenue by quietly monetizing this data. Some agencies claimed the sales were legal under the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), but critics argue that few drivers knew their information was being commodified. In essence, your license didn’t just cost you a fee. It turned you into a product.
2. IRS Sharing Taxpayer Info with Contractors
While most assume IRS records are sacred, there have been instances where taxpayer data was shared with outside contractors and private firms. One audit from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that contractors were granted access to sensitive taxpayer information without sufficient safeguards.
In some cases, background checks weren’t even completed before access was granted. This opened the door to potential misuse or leaks, especially when dealing with financial records that include Social Security numbers, income, and personal identifiers. Even if the data wasn’t sold in a traditional sense, it was still handed out with far less oversight than most taxpayers would expect.
3. Public Schools Sharing Student Data with Tech Companies
Many public school districts, in an effort to modernize classrooms, entered into agreements with education technology companies. The catch? Student data, including performance records, personal demographics, and even disciplinary histories, was sometimes shared or sold without adequate consent from parents.
In 2018, several districts came under fire for partnering with platforms that aggregated student data for product development or targeted advertising. In some cases, students’ names and usage behaviors were used to train artificial intelligence without ever informing families. What started as digital learning ended up creating digital footprints kids never intended to leave behind.
4. Health Departments Sharing Vaccination Data with Law Enforcement
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some local health departments were caught sharing vaccination and infection data with law enforcement agencies. While officials claimed it was to “enforce quarantines” or “ensure public safety,” civil liberties groups pushed back hard.
The issue wasn’t just the data. It was the lack of transparency. Many residents had no idea their private health choices were being shared beyond public health systems. For communities already wary of over-policing, this data-sharing raised serious concerns about privacy, discrimination, and medical confidentiality.
5. Police Using License Plate Readers and Selling Data
Automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) are used by police to track vehicle movements, often under the premise of catching criminals or stolen cars. But the data they collect—your location, time of travel, and driving habits—is often stored for years and sometimes sold or shared with private entities.
Some departments partnered with private surveillance companies that not only collected the data but monetized it. This means your everyday commute could be tracked, stored, and sold, even if you’ve done nothing wrong. Critics argue that this turns public roads into surveillance zones and law-abiding citizens into unwitting data points.
6. Voter Registration Data Sold to Political Consultants
Voter registration is supposed to be about civic participation, not a marketing opportunity. But in many states, voter rolls containing names, addresses, party affiliation, and voting history are legally available for sale to political consultants, PACs, and campaign strategists.
While technically public record, few voters realize that by registering, they’ve opened themselves up to microtargeting, unsolicited mail, and even harassment during heated election cycles. What’s worse, once that data is sold, there’s no real way to control how it’s used (or misused).
7. Courts Selling Access to Case Data and Legal Filings
Many court systems have transitioned to digital records, and with that transition has come a lucrative market for access. In some jurisdictions, bulk access to legal filings, judgments, and case histories is sold to private background check firms or subscription-based databases.
This data includes divorce proceedings, debt settlements, eviction notices, and criminal records, often without any redaction or context. For those who’ve moved on from past legal issues, these digital breadcrumbs can come back to haunt job applications, rental approvals, and personal reputations, just because a court sold your history to the highest bidder.
8. Social Services Agencies Sharing Welfare Data with Advertisers
One of the more shocking revelations in recent years involves social services departments that handle programs like SNAP (food stamps) or housing assistance. In some states, third-party vendors managing these systems were found to be harvesting user data and selling insights to marketing firms.
This includes demographic details, shopping behavior, and even frequency of benefit usage. While pitched as “research,” it functionally turned vulnerable populations into market segments. The very systems meant to protect and serve people in need were quietly turning them into products for commercial targeting.
What This Means for You
The selling and sharing of your data by government agencies raises a fundamental question: Who really owns your personal information? When public institutions begin to operate like private corporations—monetizing what they collect under the guise of “public service”—the trust between citizens and their government erodes.
While some disclosures are technically “legal,” most are ethically murky. They often rely on fine print, outdated laws, or loopholes that keep the average person in the dark. And in an age where data is more valuable than oil, that ignorance can be costly.
How to Protect Yourself
- Opt out where possible – Some voter rolls, DMV programs, and data-sharing services allow opt-outs, but you have to request them directly.
- Monitor your digital footprint – Use tools to track what information is public under your name.
- Stay informed – Transparency laws vary by state. Educate yourself on how public records and personal data are handled in your area.
- Push for policy change – Contact local lawmakers and advocate for stricter privacy laws and citizen notification requirements.
- Read the fine print – Government forms and public programs often include privacy disclosures—don’t skip over them.
Has your data ever been used in ways you didn’t expect? Were you shocked to find it came from a government source? Share your story below. We want to hear from you.
Read More:
8 Outrageous Myths About Government Help for Elderly Care—Debunked
10 Ways You’re Being Tracked Online—Without Your Consent
Riley Schnepf is an Arizona native with over nine years of writing experience. From personal finance to travel to digital marketing to pop culture, she’s written about everything under the sun. When she’s not writing, she’s spending her time outside, reading, or cuddling with her two corgis.
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