DOGE aims to pool federal data, putting personal information at risk

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/07/doge-government-data-immigration-social-security/

by almog • 1 year ago

17 5 1 year ago

This move actually makes a lot of sense, and it's shameful that the US government has failed to implement this already. As far as security goes, there's no reason why the system can't be built securely. It's simply a matter of building constraints around who gets to access what data, for what reasons, and what procedures are necessary to grant that access.

It's not like the US government's current systems have any sort of robust security in place. Centralization will hopefully incentivize this effort.

GuinansEyebrows• 1 year ago

As far as security goes, there's no reason why the system can't be built securely.

there are as many reasons as there are employees of DOGE. i'm not sure why you would trust them to do anything in a secure manner; they certainly haven't earned it.

gamblor956• 1 year ago

It's simply a matter of building constraints around who gets to access what data, for what reasons, and what procedures are necessary to grant that access.

Or in other words, do the exact opposite of what DOGE is doing...

lesuorac• 1 year ago

This move actually makes a lot of sense, and it's shameful that the US government has failed to implement this already.

Because it's not permitted by law.

You are not allowed to use data collected by the USG except for the purpose that it was collected for [1].

Obviously the law doesn't matter much right now and that's why the USG is pursuing it (and due to a lack of security; leaking it straight to other countries).

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_Act_of_1974

sigwinch• 1 year ago

And the feds must get your consent to share it.

DOGE aims to pool federal data, putting personal information at risk

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