Authorities in Michigan and North Carolina are investigating a political action committee backed by Elon Musk over its data-collection practices, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
The USA PAC, which Musk helped found earlier this year, may be violating state laws by collecting users’ address information while claiming to register them to vote. The Michigan Secretary of State’s office and the North Carolina State Board of Elections are investigating the possible violations. Reuters and CNBC reported:.
Musk previously pledged to donate $45 million a month to the America PAC to support former President Trump, but later backtracked on that pledge. Musk is supporting Trump in the November election.
On the “Register to Vote” page on America PAC’s site, users in Michigan and North Carolina are prompted to submit personal information, such as their address and phone number, before being directed to their state’s voter registration instructions, and voters in non-competitive states are not required to submit any information.
“Under North Carolina law, it is a crime to tell a voter that you will submit a voter registration form and then fail to do so,” North Carolina Commission spokesman Patrick Gannon told CNBC.
The site’s “Register to Vote” page was removed on Sunday, Archived Copy The site has been deleted and is no longer available.
“All citizens need to know exactly how PACs are using their personal information, especially when they claim to help people register to vote in Michigan and other states,” the Michigan Secretary of State’s office said in a statement to Reuters.
The Hill has reached out to USA PAC, the Michigan Secretary of State’s office and the North Carolina State Elections Board for comment.
