Washington Investigates Voter Data Transfer to Organization Linked to Zuckerberg

U.S. authorities are investigating the transfer of "sensitive data" of American voters to a nonprofit organization linked to the CEO of Meta and founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, in violation of federal privacy laws.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has requested the Department of Justice to investigate whether sensitive voter data, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license information, was transferred to nonprofits affiliated with entities that received funding from a foundation linked to Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan prior to the 2020 elections.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the "Electronic Registration Information Center" shared data obtained from states with the "Center for Innovation and Research on Elections," which received over $70 million from a foundation associated with Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan before the 2020 election.

The department suspects that sharing this data, which includes information from vehicle registration records, may violate the Driver Privacy Protection Act, which imposes restrictions on the use of personal information found in government vehicle records.

Mayorkas noted that some states used the data to create lists of eligible but unregistered voters, aiming to contact them and encourage registration.

Mayorkas has asked the Department of Justice to determine whether these practices violate the law, with potential penalties or legal action against involved parties if violations are confirmed. The request does not imply that the Department of Justice has already concluded that a legal violation occurred.