DOGE: Whistleblower Alleges Risky Data Exposure of Social Security Numbers
According to a whistleblower complaint, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) placed the personal data of millions of Americans, including Social Security numbers, on a vulnerable server in June. The complaint, filed by the Social Security Administration’s chief data officer, Charles Borges, alleges multiple violations and a “substantial and specific threat to public health and safety.” The database, known as Numident, contains sensitive information making it a target for nefarious actors. Despite warnings of “catastrophic impact” and a high-risk assessment, the data was moved to a private cloud server with limited oversight.
John Q. Hosedrinker