After reports that some 1,500 Minnesotans’ private data was illegally shared by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Senator Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), chairman of the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee, issued the following statement:

“The illegal sharing of citizens’ data by the Department of Public Safety is a careless and unacceptable breach of the public trust – and as a result, the private data of hundreds of Minnesotans is now in the hands of other entities. Instead of taking responsibility, state officials sent a vague, generic letter to affected individuals, and failed to notify the appropriate legislative bodies. Our government can, and must, do better.

“When the legislature convenes, the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee will hold a hearing to hear from agency officials on how the data was illegally shared, as well as the department’s plan to ensure this does not happen again. In addition, the committee will also consider legislation to further strengthen our data protection laws.”

Letter from the Department of Public Safety to affected individuals (December 28, 2018)

Senator Scott Newman, of Hutchinson, is in his third term representing District 18, which includes communities in McLeod, Meeker, Sibley, and Wright counties. He serves as chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.