Potential employees subject to background checks should be aware that much of a person’s information can be found amongst online public records.
With the heightening importance of keeping government transparent, many government agencies and courts have begun posting records online. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, some jurisdictions post information to their own Web sites, while others sell public files to commercial data compilers and information brokers, who in turn make the information available for a fee.
Some documents containing personal information that are available online may include: property tax assessor files, motor vehicle records and professional and business licenses. Registered voter files are sometimes available, but are restricted in some states. Court files also may be available, including: case indexes, tax liens and judgments, bankruptcy files, criminal arrest and conviction records and warrants and civil court recordings.