A recent online rumour linking Elon Musk's political action committee to a voter registration website has sparked intense privacy concerns across social media, leading fact-checkers to examine what the platform's privacy terms actually reveal about user data collection.
Last month, internet users began sounding the alarm over VoteSafe.org, pointing to the personal information the online voter registration platform says it can collect and share.
Concerns quickly spread across Facebook, Threads and Bluesky that America PAC, the political group established by billionaire Elon Musk, was behind the funding and operation of the portal, leading readers to ask investigators to check whether the rumour was true.
Snopes examined the claim and found that America PAC is behind VoteSafe.org, while the site's privacy terms permit the collection and sharing of visitor information. The policy also provides privacy rights and opt-out mechanisms that vary depending on a user's state.
Western Creative Group Named as Data-Sharing Partner
According to the platform's privacy documentation, Western Creative Group is explicitly identified as a 'business partner' with which America PAC may share personal information. The Wyoming business record identifies Western Creative Group LLC as a registered entity, with a law firm listed in its filing.
Back in 2024, The Washington Post reported that Musk spent about $20 million through Western Creative Group to promote the idea that US President Donald Trump 'opposed a federal ban on abortion.'
Snopes reached out to Bailey Stock Harmon Cottam Lopez to clarify the law firm's ties to Western Creative Group and promised updates if they responded. The team also asked America PAC for a full list of third parties receiving data but has not yet received an answer.
America PAC's Link to VoteSafe.org
Another question arising from this context is whether the tech billionaire finances Vote.org, a separate registration platform launched years before VoteSafe.org. Public board records and tax documents show that Vote.org operates as a nonpartisan, nonprofit, completely independent entity of Musk, while voters can access official state registration resources through the federal government's vote.gov website.
Prominently displayed on the archived homepage of America PAC is the description 'PAC Founded by Elon Musk', with Federal Election Commission figures indicating that America PAC has received tens of millions of dollars in individual contributions. Visitors navigating the PAC's main page will also find a link directing traffic to the VoteSafe.org portal.
Additional clues confirming financial backing from America PAC appear throughout the archived VoteSafe.org landing page. The footer displays an 'AMERICA PAC' copyright stamp directly above the mandated political disclaimer: 'Paid for by America PAC. Not authorised by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.theamericapac.org.'
What America PAC Can Do With Visitor Data
Updated on 29 August 2026, the platform's terms state that America PAC reserves the right to gather, use and share details concerning visitor demographics, career backgrounds, political preferences and web browsing habits with outside entities, which explicitly covers its 'business partners'.
The policy says America PAC may disclose personal information to business partners, service providers and third parties for marketing purposes. It specifically names Western Creative Group as a business partner.
Although the privacy terms explicitly say America PAC may sell personal information to business partners where permitted by law, it remains uncertain whether any specific visitor's data has actually been sold to Western Creative Group or another company for financial gain.
The policy explains this ambiguity by pointing out that certain American privacy regulations now define a data 'sale' to encompass exchanges extending well beyond simple monetary transactions.
Why Data Sharing Remains Unclear
State regulations in California illustrate this broad definition, noting that a data 'sale' can occur whenever a commercial enterprise transfers consumer records to an outside entity in exchange for any form of 'valuable consideration'.
Aside from 'targeted marketing purposes', the platform's privacy terms fail to specify whether particular user records have actually been transferred in exchange for money or other valuable consideration.
California residents can submit an annual inquiry to find out if their records were handed over for promotional campaigns, while the policy says that, depending on their state of residence, individuals may also request a list of the specific third parties, or categories of third parties, to which their personal information was disclosed.
