The Department of Justice (DOJ) has admitted that operatives with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a group linked to Elon Musk, may have shared Social Security data without permission. The admission was made in court documents filed on January 16, which claim that DOGE team members may have used cloud storage to share data from the SSA, a violation of security protocols.
The documents also reveal that Steve Davis, a high-ranking adviser to Elon Musk, received an email containing a password-protected file with personal information obtained from SSA systems. The SSA was unable to determine whether Davis accessed the file, which remained inaccessible to current employees as of the time of the court filing.
The DOJ's admission raises concerns about the misuse of sensitive data and the potential for violations of the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. While it is unclear whether DOGE operatives actually shared the data with an outside group that sought to "overturn election results in certain states," the incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within government agencies.
The implications of this incident are significant, as it suggests that sensitive information may have been compromised without proper oversight or authorization. The DOJ's admission also underscores the importance of robust security protocols and the need for vigilance to prevent such breaches in the future.
In related news, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established a no-fly zone around Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations, restricting unmanned aircraft from flying within 3,000 feet horizontally and up to 1,000 feet above DHS assets. Those who violate this restriction may face criminal charges, civil penalties, or even have their authority to fly drones revoked.
Additionally, the clothing and fitness app company Under Armour is investigating a potential data breach after millions of customer records were leaked online. The dataset included names, email addresses, genders, dates of birth, approximate locations, and information related to purchases.
Microsoft has also confirmed that it hands out BitLocker encryption keys to law enforcement agencies at their request, giving them full access to the machine's secrets. This raises concerns about the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive data and the need for greater transparency around these practices.
Lastly, Iranian state TV was hijacked by anti-regime voices to air a message in support of protesters, thousands of whom have died amid the recent uprising. The clip featured the son of the former ruler of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, calling on military and security forces to join protesters and fight the regime.
The documents also reveal that Steve Davis, a high-ranking adviser to Elon Musk, received an email containing a password-protected file with personal information obtained from SSA systems. The SSA was unable to determine whether Davis accessed the file, which remained inaccessible to current employees as of the time of the court filing.
The DOJ's admission raises concerns about the misuse of sensitive data and the potential for violations of the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. While it is unclear whether DOGE operatives actually shared the data with an outside group that sought to "overturn election results in certain states," the incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within government agencies.
The implications of this incident are significant, as it suggests that sensitive information may have been compromised without proper oversight or authorization. The DOJ's admission also underscores the importance of robust security protocols and the need for vigilance to prevent such breaches in the future.
In related news, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established a no-fly zone around Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations, restricting unmanned aircraft from flying within 3,000 feet horizontally and up to 1,000 feet above DHS assets. Those who violate this restriction may face criminal charges, civil penalties, or even have their authority to fly drones revoked.
Additionally, the clothing and fitness app company Under Armour is investigating a potential data breach after millions of customer records were leaked online. The dataset included names, email addresses, genders, dates of birth, approximate locations, and information related to purchases.
Microsoft has also confirmed that it hands out BitLocker encryption keys to law enforcement agencies at their request, giving them full access to the machine's secrets. This raises concerns about the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive data and the need for greater transparency around these practices.
Lastly, Iranian state TV was hijacked by anti-regime voices to air a message in support of protesters, thousands of whom have died amid the recent uprising. The clip featured the son of the former ruler of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, calling on military and security forces to join protesters and fight the regime.