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DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data

theatlantic.com

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Re: DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data

#151
post #35

Is there any reason this data shouldn't be public for everyone to read?

USAID collaborates in fighting for worker rights when they are in exploitation or near-slavery.

They likely have records of the people inside organisations who provide data for them. These people usually want to remain anonymous because they fear retaliation. And in many cases, we’re not just talking about being fired or legal actions as retaliation.

Re: DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data

#152
post #30

I find it wild that apparently there is no law onto which government workers can cling to refuse these requests. Is it all just based on conventions, goodwill and culture?

Why do you want them to refuse audit requests? There is no upside to hiding egregious government waste other than paying politicians via kickbacks more than what is legally mandated.

Same reason you won’t send me the credentials to your bank accounts.

Re: DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data

#154
post #110

European here, giving my two cents on how this looks from the other side of the Atlantic. Heh In my country there are laws stopping agencies doing a simple SQL join between two databases, even within the same government agency. There is a separate agency that handles the requests when agencies want to join information. I am not an expert in the matter. But my gut is telling me that our experiences with east Germany a…

That's putting it mildly. What it really looks like is a fast descent into madness.

Re: DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data

#155
post #153

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Even completely ignoring the dubious ethics invoked - a lot of non Americans will get worse outcomes than the US because of this. Given the work that has been cancelled so far, some of those non Americans are likely already dead.

Re: DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data

#157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most distressing thing I learned in the past 3 ~~Years~~ edit: months,, was how MUCH laws are about norms. Norms, are basically the way laws work in the real world. I despaired, because this is natural to lawyers, and alien entirely to the layperson. No one is going to think Justice, and then accept “Oh, our norms are how laws work”.

The past three years? Why that time period? (I thought trumps first term was when it all became obvious).

Crap. Typo; I learnt about it in November, while hearing a magistrate and lawyer discuss something.

Re: DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data

#159
post #110

European here, giving my two cents on how this looks from the other side of the Atlantic. Heh In my country there are laws stopping agencies doing a simple SQL join between two databases, even within the same government agency. There is a separate agency that handles the requests when agencies want to join information. I am not an expert in the matter. But my gut is telling me that our experiences with east Germany a…

Very few countries have as strong executive branch as the USA.

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Re: DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data

#160
post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are laws, but you will get fired if you try to follow them, and lawsuits to remedy that take time. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/usaid-sec...

Which laws? The article describes security clearance.

Security clearances are based on laws, such as the ones compiled in Title 50 U.S. Code §3341.
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