March 21, 2025 10:50 AM.
In the US, a federal judge has ruled that the Social Security Administration, SSA likely violated privacy laws by granting Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) broad access to millions of Americans’ records.
The U.S. District Court ordered an immediate halt to the data sharing, stating that while fighting fraud is important, it cannot come at the expense of privacy laws. The ruling revealed that DOGE had been given unrestricted access to sensitive SSA records, sparking privacy concerns.
The federal judge said DOGE was intruding into the personal affairs of millions of Americans as part of its hunt for fraud and waste under President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the acting head of SSA warned the order might block all agency employees from IT systems and said he would seek clarification. The case highlights growing scrutiny over DOGE’s access to government databases under President Donald Trump’s administration.