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Musk's AI Surveillance of Federal Workers Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns

New revelations detail DOGE's use of AI and private messaging tools to monitor federal communications for anti-Trump sentiment, fueling transparency and privacy fears.

Elon Musk looks on during the day of a meeting with House Republicans to discuss the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 5, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo
People gather to protest outside the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) headquarters after the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was charged with oversight of OPM, in Washington, U.S. February 2, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo
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Overview

  • Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly using AI tools, including the Grok chatbot, to monitor federal employees' communications for language critical of Donald Trump or Musk.
  • DOGE staff are utilizing the Signal app for internal communications, which experts warn may violate federal record-keeping laws due to its disappearing message feature.
  • At the Environmental Protection Agency, AI surveillance is being deployed to track employee communications, coinciding with significant budget cuts and mass layoffs under DOGE's oversight.
  • DOGE's operations are marked by secrecy, with restricted access to sensitive databases and accusations of bypassing transparency and accountability norms within government processes.
  • Legal and ethical experts have raised concerns about potential abuses of power, including the suppression of dissent and the misuse of advanced technologies for political purposes.