Data Brokers Under Fire: Minnesota Shooting Highlights Privacy Risks

A tragic shooting in Minnesota, where a suspect allegedly used data broker sites to find the addresses of targeted officials, has reignited the debate over online privacy and the accessibility of personal information.

Vance Boelter, 57, is accused of a violent rampage that included the murder of a Democratic state representative, Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Mark Hortman, as well as the shooting of a state senator, John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, at their residences. Senator Hoffman and his wife are currently recovering.

Court documents reveal that Boelter allegedly researched “people search” websites, raising concerns about the potential misuse of readily available personal data. An FBI affidavit stated that notebooks found in the suspect’s SUV contained lists of over 45 Minnesota state and federal officials, with Representative Hortman’s home address noted. The notebooks also contained a list of eleven search platforms to find people’s home addresses and other personal information.

Acting US attorney Joseph Thompson stated that Boelter “stalked his victims like prey” and “used the internet and other tools to find their addresses and names.”

The incident has prompted renewed calls for stricter regulation of data brokers. Senator Ron Wyden emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Congress doesn’t need any more proof that people are being killed based on data for sale to anyone with a credit card.”

Experts point out that while some information is publicly accessible through voter registration or political donation records, data brokers aggregate this and other details, making it easier to find individuals’ addresses and personal details.

Evan Greer, deputy director of Fight for the Future, claims, “These are not the first murders that have been abetted by the data broker industry,” urging lawmakers to act swiftly to protect sensitive personal data.

The tragedy underscores the ongoing need for comprehensive data privacy legislation in the US and raises serious questions about the balance between open information and personal security.

Further Reading

• The Dangers of Data Brokers: A Closer Look
• How to Protect Your Personal Information Online
• Data Privacy Legislation: What’s Being Proposed?

Topics: Privacy, Data Brokers, Online Security, Politics, Minnesota