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Now anyone can find out the personal data of US citizens.
The VoteRef website, supported by a right-wing organization, has opened up free access to personal information about millions of US citizens. Now any user can find out the address of another person, age, party affiliation and whether he participated in the elections. This applies not only to ordinary citizens, but also to famous personalities, victims of crime and other vulnerable groups.
Although voter rolls in the United States are considered public data, they usually require contacting state agencies. On the VoteRef website, everything is simpler — you can find the information you need instantly. It is enough just to enter the name or address of the target and see its selective data.
Screenshot from VoteRef website (source: 404 Media)
It is worth noting that unlike local archives, where documents are physically stored, digitizing data and publishing it on sites like VoteRef turns voter lists into a potential tool for doxxing and persecution.
VoteRef is run by the Voter Reference Foundation, a right-wing organization that previously supported Donald Trump's campaign. The organization sought to find voting irregularities, but checks showed that the conclusions were inaccurate. Social media users are already using VoteRef data to spread disinformation about the election.
The site is gradually adding data on new states. At the time of publication, records are available from most states, except for California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, the data was removed after the appeal of the authorities.
On its website, VoteRef claims that it seeks to increase interest in the elections, but representatives of the organization did not explain how the publication of personal data contributes to this goal. Experts call for a review of privacy laws, because access to personal data on the Internet can not only violate the right to privacy, but also lead to threats and harassment.
Source
The VoteRef website, supported by a right-wing organization, has opened up free access to personal information about millions of US citizens. Now any user can find out the address of another person, age, party affiliation and whether he participated in the elections. This applies not only to ordinary citizens, but also to famous personalities, victims of crime and other vulnerable groups.
Although voter rolls in the United States are considered public data, they usually require contacting state agencies. On the VoteRef website, everything is simpler — you can find the information you need instantly. It is enough just to enter the name or address of the target and see its selective data.
Screenshot from VoteRef website (source: 404 Media)
It is worth noting that unlike local archives, where documents are physically stored, digitizing data and publishing it on sites like VoteRef turns voter lists into a potential tool for doxxing and persecution.
VoteRef is run by the Voter Reference Foundation, a right-wing organization that previously supported Donald Trump's campaign. The organization sought to find voting irregularities, but checks showed that the conclusions were inaccurate. Social media users are already using VoteRef data to spread disinformation about the election.
The site is gradually adding data on new states. At the time of publication, records are available from most states, except for California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, the data was removed after the appeal of the authorities.
On its website, VoteRef claims that it seeks to increase interest in the elections, but representatives of the organization did not explain how the publication of personal data contributes to this goal. Experts call for a review of privacy laws, because access to personal data on the Internet can not only violate the right to privacy, but also lead to threats and harassment.
Source
