Trump administration freaks out over leaked data on DHS officials

The Department of Homeland Security has asked an Icelandic web host to remove or restrict a leaked database naming more than 40,000 of its employees, some of whom work undercover. The transparency group DDoSecrets posted the material. The hosting company, FlokiNET, has refused, so the information remains available, according to MS NOW.

According to the takedown request that FlokiNET posted online, the database exposes over 40,000 identifiable people to harassment, stalking and physical harm. The request came from ZeroFox, a firm that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has authorized to pursue content removals. FlokiNET chief executive Kolja Weber told Reuters his company would leave the data up, since it contains government workers' office addresses and office phone numbers rather than personal contact details.

MS NOW opinion blogger Ja'han Jones links the episode to a wider push by activists to identify largely masked immigration agents, whom the administration has sought to protect. He also faults President Donald Trump for weakening federal cybersecurity, noting that the FBI suffered a serious cyberattack last month. Jones concedes it is unclear whether those cuts contributed to this latest exposure.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →