California authorizes its DMV to join a national ID database
2 months ago
- Gov. Newsom signed SB-169, authorizing the DMV to upload California driver's license and state ID data to the national SPEXS database held by AAMVA.
- The law's 'guardrails' are criticized as ineffective against potential bulk data requests from federal or other states' law enforcement, which could occur without notifying affected Californians.
- Claims that the data sharing is federally mandated are disputed; it applies only if states comply with the REAL-ID Act, which is voluntary, and 170 organizations oppose it as a harmful choice for communities.