There is once again a heated debate about digital privacy. A recent report says Google fulfilled a data request (via administrative subpoena) from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting Amandla Thomas-Johnson, a British student and journalist. He went to a protest on campus for a short time in 2024. What makes this case stand out is how much information was shared and how little a judge was involved.
Why Google complied with a subpoena (non-judicial) ICE data request
Unlike a traditional warrant, an administrative subpoena is issued directly by a federal agency without judicial oversight. These requests cannot force a company to hand over the actual content of emails or search histories. However, authorities may use them to unmask account owners.
In this instance, The Intercept reports that Google provided a trove of metadata. The disclosure included usernames, physical addresses, and IP addresses. Perhaps most surprisingly, it also involved financial details. This includes credit card and bank account numbers linked to the journalist’s account. This happened shortly after the revocation of the student’s visa. Google completed the request without giving Johnson a chance to answer it in court, the report says.
A choice, not an obligation
Digital rights groups say that one of the most critical points to remember is that tech companies are not legally required to follow these administrative subpoenas. They can fight or even ignore these requests, unlike a court order. But the report points out a worrying trend: major platforms seem to be more willing to follow government orders. This often happens when they are under gag orders that keep them from telling the people who are affected.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), along with other civil rights organizations, has stepped in to call for a change in policy. They recently sent a joint letter to industry giants—including Apple, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft—urging them to resist these subpoenas unless a court intervenes. Their argument is simple: users deserve transparency and a fair opportunity to defend their private data.
Thomas-Johnson’s life changed forever after he fled to Africa to avoid arrest in the US. He says that the current situation, in which big tech companies and government agencies have so much personal data, makes it hard for journalists and activists to do their jobs.
The post Google Handed Over Journalist’s Bank Details to ICE Without a Judge’s Order appeared first on Android Headlines.
​Â
