A federal court has temporarily blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Social Security records after ruling that such access violated privacy laws. The decision, handed down by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on Thursday, was based on concerns raised by two national labor groups and an advocacy organization.
The plaintiffs argued that DOGE’s broad access to personal information, including Social Security numbers, medical and mental health records, tax details, and other sensitive data, was unwarranted. They accused DOGE of conducting a “fishing expedition” under the pretext of rooting out fraud, with no concrete evidence to justify the scope of the data request.
Judge Ellen Hollander agreed with the plaintiffs, finding that the Social Security Administration (SSA) had violated privacy protections under the Privacy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. In her ruling, she pointed out the irony that DOGE affiliates were concerned about their own privacy, while millions of Americans’ personal data was made accessible without consent. The court noted that the unrestricted access was “arbitrary and capricious,” placing the public’s personal information at risk without proper legal grounds.
The ruling was hailed as a victory by Lee Saunders, President of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), one of the plaintiffs in the case. “The court recognized that Musk’s unqualified team posed a significant threat to Social Security and the privacy of millions of Americans,” Saunders said.
The temporary restraining order (TRO) will remain in effect while the case is further evaluated, with the plaintiffs arguing that continued access could cause irreparable harm to their members.
This decision highlights ongoing concerns about the balance between government efforts to combat fraud and the protection of citizens’ privacy rights. As the case proceeds, the court’s final judgment could set significant precedents for the handling of personal data in government initiatives.
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