Did DOGE Breach Americans' Data? Insights from Lock and Code S06E08
TL;DR
- The newly created US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been accused of accessing sensitive American data without proper authorization.
- Concerns have been raised about potential data breaches and the legality of DOGE’s actions.
- The article explores these issues in depth, including an interview with a senior policy analyst.
Main Content
This week on the Lock and Code podcast…
If you haven’t heard about the newly established US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), there’s a strong possibility that DOGE has heard about you.
Created on January 20 through an Executive Order by US President Donald Trump, DOGE aims to “modernize Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”
However, to achieve its mission, DOGE has shown a keen interest in accessing Americans’ data.
On February 1, DOGE team members without the necessary security clearances accessed classified information belonging to the US Agency for International Development. On February 17, multiple outlets reported that DOGE sought access to IRS data, which includes names, addresses, social security numbers, income, net worth, bank information for direct deposits, and bankruptcy history. The next day, the commissioner of the Social Security Administration resigned after DOGE requested access to its stored information, including records of lifetime wages and earnings, social security and bank account numbers, types and amounts of benefits received, citizenship status, and disability and medical information. Additionally, one US resident filed a data breach notification report with his state’s Attorney General, alleging that his data was breached by DOGE and Elon Musk.
In an interview with Databreaches.net, the individual, Kevin Couture, stated:
“I filed the report with my state Attorney General against Elon Musk stating my privacy rights were violated as my Social Security Number and banking info were compromised by accessing government systems and downloading the info without my consent or knowledge. What other information did he gather on me or others? This is wrong and illegal. I have no idea who has my information now.”
Today on the Lock and Code podcast, host David Ruiz speaks with Sydney Saubestre, senior policy analyst at New America’s Open Technology Institute. They discuss what data DOGE has accessed, why the government department claims it requires that access, and whether it is fair to call some of this access a “data breach.”
“[DOGE] haven’t been able to articulate why they want access to some of these data files other than broad ‘waste, fraud, and abuse.’ That, ethically, to me, points to it being a data breach.”
Tune in today to listen to the full conversation.
Show notes and credits:
Intro Music: “Spellbound” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Outro Music: “Good God” by Wowa (unminus.com)
Listen up—Malwarebytes doesn’t just talk cybersecurity, we provide it.
Protect yourself from online attacks that threaten your identity, your files, your system, and your financial well-being with our exclusive offer for Malwarebytes Premium for Lock and Code listeners.
Conclusion
The actions of DOGE raise significant questions about data privacy and security. As the situation unfolds, it is crucial to stay informed about how personal data is being handled and protected. For more details, visit the full article: source.