The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), along with a group of privacy advocates, has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by Elon Musk, for alleged violations of the privacy of millions of Americans.
The legal action seeks to prevent DOGE from accessing highly sensitive data stored by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which includes personal information, work experiences, and health data of federal employees.
The EFF argues that the access and disclosure of OPM information by DOGE violate the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, which imposes strict restrictions on access to this data.
DOGE, the most hated organization in the U.S.
The organization warns that the improper handling of this information could jeopardize the security and privacy of millions of people in the country. The OPM manages a dataset that contains identifiable details such as names, social security numbers, salaries, and confidentiality agreements for classified information, raising concerns about potential abuses.
Since its creation, DOGE has faced a growing number of complaints related to the allegedly illegal access to data, supported by multiple federal employee unions and privacy experts.
In response to the controversy, the EFF has demanded that any future data sharing be blocked and that DOGE delete all information collected to date.
This litigation adds to other legal actions, including a lawsuit filed by the National Security Council shortly after DOGE was officially recognized. Recently, a federal judge issued an order limiting DOGE’s access to information from the Department of the Treasury.
The situation highlights the growing discontent regarding the management of sensitive data by the new government agency, whose establishment was driven by an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.