Judge Blocks Musk's Access to Sensitive Social Security Data

A U.S. judge has issued an injunction halting Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency's data collection efforts, citing privacy concerns and insufficient justification.

Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander issued a preliminary injunction preventing Musk and Doge from accessing sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers, medical records, and financial information.
The ruling mandates the deletion of any non-anonymized data already obtained by Doge and prohibits further access to or alteration of Social Security Administration systems.
The judge criticized the justification for the data collection, dismissing claims of a 'fraud epidemic' as speculative and unsupported by evidence.
Doge employees may access anonymized data under strict conditions, including completion of required security training.
The case highlights broader tensions between government modernization efforts, individual privacy rights, and concerns over corporate influence in public governance.