EFF Reports Federal Government Unlawfully Consolidating Private Data
The Electronic Frontier Foundation states that federal agencies have merged private data in three waves, risking abuses against immigrants and protesters.
Key points
- The EFF identifies three waves of federal data consolidation starting with DOGE.
- Data sharing expanded to agency-to-agency transfers with ICE.
- The government attempted to use consolidated data for state voter roll purges.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports that the federal government has unlawfully consolidated private data over the past two years. This consolidation exposes personal information used for taxes, benefits, and voting to potential weaponization by federal agencies.
According to the EFF, this chaotic process occurred in three rolling waves. It began with the Department of Government Efficiency, moved to agency-to-agency data sharing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and included attempts at data-driven purges of state voter rolls.
Context and Background
The EFF argues that amalgamating data leads to mistakes, abuses, and a lack of trust in institutions meant to protect citizens. This consolidation can chill participation in society, particularly for groups disfavored by the current administration, including immigrants and protesters.
Congress previously highlighted similar abuses following the McCarthy and Watergate eras. These historical incidents included the creation of enemies lists and snooping on activists and federal employees, prompting legislative action to protect privacy.
Who Is Affected
The increasing use of computers to magnify these harms led Congress to pass protections like the federal Privacy Act of 1974. The EFF notes that many people have stepped forward to resist these unprecedented and unlawful data consolidations.
The report emphasizes that individuals deserve to live in a world where their data is not combined against them. The EFF states that the current consolidation efforts threaten the privacy of all citizens who interact with federal systems.
What should you do?
The EFF reports that many groups are resisting the federal government’s data consolidations. No specific technical fix or patch has been confirmed by the vendors or agencies involved. Users should monitor official channels for updates on data handling policies.
What to do and how to stay safe: EFF
- Review federal agency privacy notices to understand how your data is being shared between departments.
- Monitor official announcements from the Department of Government Efficiency regarding data collection practices.
- Check with your state election office for information on how federal data interacts with voter rolls.
- Support organizations like the EFF that are resisting unlawful federal data consolidations.
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three waves of federal data consolidation?
The EFF identifies the waves as starting with DOGE, moving to agency-to-agency sharing with ICE, and attempting data-driven purges of state voter rolls.
How does the EFF say this affects citizens?
The EFF states that data amalgamation leads to mistakes, abuses, and a lack of trust, chilling participation for immigrants and protesters.
What historical context does the EFF provide?
The EFF notes that Congress passed the Privacy Act of 1974 after highlighting abuses like enemies lists and snooping during the McCarthy and Watergate eras.
