The ACLU is seeking records of Doge’s unlimited access to American data, urging Congress to step up
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today calls for urgent transparency into the secret efforts of so-called government efficiency (DOGE) to access and analyze sensitive individuals in its citizens. A request for the Freedom Act (FOIA) has been submitted. information. The ACLU also wrote to key Congress leaders, urging Congress to play a constitutional role in providing immediate oversight of this enforcement and unconfirmed access to American data. The move is growing concern that Doge is a hastily constructed office created on Trump’s first day in office, infiltrating federal agencies and financial and health welfare, including information about individuals. We have gained access to a database that includes the Ministry of Welfare and Welfare (HHS) system. ‘Financial, health records, social security data. As Doge reportedly uses AI to decide what critical public services and programs to cut back on, not protecting this data is the perfect storm for unimaginable data breaches or hacks It not only brings about it, it also puts the health and safety of millions of Americans at risk. Ultimately, Trump cannot cut federal programs including community health centers, refugee resettlement agencies and early education programs without huge amounts of data, and Doge has put all he needs. It is offered. In a request from the FOIA, the ACLU asks that DOGE or its representatives have access to a database containing personally identifiable information, financial records, medical data, or other confidential government-held American records? They are seeking records to clarify whether they have been obtained or not. The request also calls for information on Doge’s use of artificial intelligence to analyze government data, and raises an alarm about the mass surveillance of its deep personal information and politically motivated misuse. Similarly, letters to Congressional leaders emphasize that executive agencies’ flaunting longstanding legal requirements and norms undermines American privacy and the constitutional role of Congress. Nathan Fried Wessler, Associate Director of Speech, Privacy and Technology, said: project. “There are all indications that Doge has made its way into the government’s most heavily protected databases and systems without considering the longstanding privacy protection measures mandated by Congress. We need the answer now.” Doge’s leadership ironically means that employees and representatives, largely housed in government agencies, are not covered by FOIA. So, in addition to Doge, the ACLU has sent FOIA requests to more than 40 agencies that maintain confidential or personal information, including the Department of Treasury, the IRS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Social Security Administration, and the FBI. and the Department of Homeland Security, among others. “Doge’s access to the sensitive personal records of millions of people is extremely surprising and raises important legal issues,” said Cody Venzke, Senior Policy Advisor at ACLU. . “Congress has to step up, do the work and check on the president’s overreach.”
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