Google Broke Its Promise to Me. Now ICE Has My Data

11 hours ago

Google handed over user data to ICE without prior notification, breaking its decade-long promise to notify users before complying with law enforcement requests.
Amandla Thomas-Johnson, a Ph.D. student and dual citizen, was targeted by U.S. immigration authorities after attending a pro-Palestinian protest, leading to surveillance and intimidation without any criminal accusations.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed complaints with California and New York Attorneys General, urging an investigation into Google's deceptive trade practices for violating its notification policy.
Administrative subpoenas allowed ICE to access detailed user data, including IP addresses and session times, creating invasive surveillance profiles without user consent or opportunity to challenge.
The incident highlights the collaboration between state power and corporate data, enabling arbitrary investigations that are difficult to detect or contest, raising concerns about privacy and accountability.

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