Google Accused of Hiding ICE Data, EFF Demands Probe
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- Google allegedly failed to notify users before handing over personal data to ICE, violating its own promise of notifying users for nearly a decade.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation sent letters to the attorneys general of California and New York urging investigations into Google's alleged deceptive trade practices regarding data disclosures.
- Amandla Thomas‑Johnsonson, a Cornell PhD candidate, received a notice after Google gave his personal Gmail data to ICE in response to a DHS subpoena, despite his expectation that Google would notify him.
- California law permits civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, which the EFF seeks as part of injunctive relief against Google.
- New York is also being asked to investigate Google's data‑handling practices under the same request.
- Department of Homeland Security issued a subpoena under 18 USC 2703(c)(2) for Thomas‑Johnsonson’s subscriber information, which Google complied with without a judicial order.
- Google spokesperson said the company reviews all legal demands for validity and pushes back against overbroad or improper requests.
Why it matters: If the AGs act, Google could be fined up to $2,500 per violation in California and forced to change its data‑disclosure practices, while privacy advocates gain a legal lever to enforce notification promises and users could receive clearer notice before their information is shared with ICE.
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