Homeland Security Demands Social Media Sites Reveal Names Behind Anti-ICE Posts

The Department of Homeland Security has been seeking the names, email addresses, phone numbers and other identifying data behind social media accounts that track or criticize Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Google, Reddit, Discord and Meta have received hundreds of administrative subpoenas in recent months, and some companies have complied.

The requests targeted accounts that do not use real names and that posted about ICE or pointed to the locations of agents. Tech companies say they review legal demands and, in some cases, notify users so they have roughly 10 to 14 days to challenge a subpoena in court.

A Google spokeswoman said the company’s review process is designed to protect user privacy while meeting legal obligations. Steve Loney of the A.C.L.U. said the government is taking "more liberties than they used to," calling the volume and reach of the requests a new level of frequency and lack of accountability.

United States

dhs, ice, social media, subpoenas, google, reddit, meta, discord, aclu, user privacy