The Department of Justice (DOJ) has admitted that its operatives, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), may have shared Social Security data with an outside group seeking to overturn election results in certain states. The admission comes in a court filing, which also reveals that DOGE operatives were using links to share data through Cloudflare, a third-party server not approved for storing SSA data.
The filing mentions that Steve Davis, a high-ranking adviser to Elon Musk, was copied on an email containing a password-protected file with the names and addresses of approximately 1,000 people, taken from SSA systems. However, it's unclear whether Davis accessed the file, as it remained inaccessible to current SSA workers.
This development raises concerns about the misuse of sensitive information by government agencies and their operatives. The fact that DOGE operatives were sharing data without a warrant or proper authorization is a serious breach of constitutional protections. The DOJ's admission highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within these agencies.
Moreover, this incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with data breaches and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information. As more organizations rely on cloud storage and third-party services, they must ensure that their data is properly secured and protected from unauthorized access.
The implications of this incident extend beyond the DOGE operatives and SSA, highlighting the need for a comprehensive review of government agencies' handling of sensitive information. The DOJ's admission underscores the importance of robust oversight and accountability mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The filing mentions that Steve Davis, a high-ranking adviser to Elon Musk, was copied on an email containing a password-protected file with the names and addresses of approximately 1,000 people, taken from SSA systems. However, it's unclear whether Davis accessed the file, as it remained inaccessible to current SSA workers.
This development raises concerns about the misuse of sensitive information by government agencies and their operatives. The fact that DOGE operatives were sharing data without a warrant or proper authorization is a serious breach of constitutional protections. The DOJ's admission highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within these agencies.
Moreover, this incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with data breaches and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information. As more organizations rely on cloud storage and third-party services, they must ensure that their data is properly secured and protected from unauthorized access.
The implications of this incident extend beyond the DOGE operatives and SSA, highlighting the need for a comprehensive review of government agencies' handling of sensitive information. The DOJ's admission underscores the importance of robust oversight and accountability mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.