Free speech advocates warn the subpoenas threaten long-standing protections for anonymous speech.

The Department of Homeland Security is pushing Silicon Valley to strip anonymity from Americans who track or criticize Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agency has fired off hundreds of subpoenas demanding names, email addresses, and phone numbers tied to anti-ICE social media accounts, the New York Times reported Friday.

Unlike traditional warrants, administrative subpoenas do not require approval from a judge before they are issued. Instead of seeking court authorization first, DHS can sign and send the demands directly to tech companies—a power civil liberties advocates say is now being deployed far more aggressively.

Google, Meta, Reddit, and Discord received subpoenas targeting anonymous accounts that posted about ICE activity, the Times reported.

Archive report: https://archive.is/QW78b#selection-723.0-731.17

  • Jo Miran@lemmy.mlEnglish
    31·
    1 day ago

    Unlike traditional warrants, administrative subpoenas do not require approval from a judge before they are issued.

    Remember 9/11. Never forget, right?

    This is where the creation of a department to “secure” our “homeland”, and laws like the “patriot” act where always going to lead. This is where selling off your rights and freedoms for a false sense of security was always going to lead.

    Don’t worry, it’ll get much worse.