In recent years, the federal government has been repurposing data originally collected for public services—such as tax filing, health care enrollment, and labor oversight—into a powerful tool for mass surveillance and law enforcement. Fueled by executive orders, agreements between government agencies, and partnerships with private companies, this shift has unfolded largely hidden from public scrutiny. While data sharing has been a feature of government operations since the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act in 2001, which broadened surveillance powers, and the 2013 revelation of the PRISM program, which exposed widespread data collection from tech firms, these latest developments signal an escalation that warrants urgent attention. The implications for privacy and civil liberties are alarming, as personal information is increasingly harnessed to monitor and predict behavior on an unprecedented scale.

Concrete examples highlight the extent of this trend. In March 2025, a whistleblower at the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) reported a significant outflow of sensitive data from the agency’s network, coinciding with access granted to staff from the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”). Weeks later, on April 7, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) secured access to Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) tax records. These incidents are not anomalies but part of a broader pattern where federal agencies exchange and repurpose data, often citing national security or administrative efficiency as justification.

Partnerships with private companies amplify this data repurposing. Agencies like DHS have enlisted third-party contractors and data brokers to circumvent legal barriers that restrict direct access to certain information. These intermediaries aggregate data from diverse sources—social media posts, utility bills, grocery purchases, and more—creating detailed digital portraits of individuals without their knowledge or judicial approval. Palantir, a prominent data analytics firm, provides investigative platforms to agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), the Department of Defense, and the IRS. These tools compile information from driver’s licenses, social service records, and financial transactions into dashboards that support predictive policing and behavioral profiling, further blurring the line between public service and surveillance.

This evolution raises critical questions about privacy and civil liberties. The government’s infrastructure is increasingly resembling an integrated surveillance network, capable of tracking and analyzing individual actions with remarkable precision. Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning exacerbate this capability, enabling agencies to forecast behavior and flag perceived risks. But this reliance on data-driven tools carries risks of bias and discrimination. Predictive policing systems, for instance, have drawn criticism for disproportionately targeting minority communities. Such practices may also violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches, as data collected for one purpose is redirected to others without oversight or consent. The growing use of social media and online platforms as data sources only deepens these concerns, offering a window into personal lives that was once unimaginable.

These developments demand a robust response. Greater transparency and accountability are essential to ensure that data gathered for public purposes is not misused for surveillance. Policymakers, alongside civil society and the public, must press for a thorough examination of current data-sharing practices and the establishment of clear safeguards. The absence of such measures risks abuse, where information could be leveraged to single out individuals or groups based on their beliefs, affiliations, or identities. As technology continues to evolve, so too must the frameworks that protect the rights of citizens in an increasingly monitored world.

As technology outpaces oversight, the quiet repurposing of government data has escalated into a systemic threat—one that transforms public services into tools of surveillance. The evidence is undeniable: NLRB records diverted to the DOGE, IRS data shared with DHS, and Palantir’s dashboards weaving together our digital lives. This is not mere bureaucracy. It is a fundamental betrayal of the trust placed in government to collect data for public good, not policing.

The stakes are existential. Predictive algorithms and behavioral profiling risk automating discrimination, while public-private partnerships evade judicial scrutiny, rendering the Fourth Amendment ineffective in safeguarding people’s rights. Every tax filing, health record, or online activity fed into this system reinforces a future where citizens are persistently monitored—not protected, suspected, or served.

But this future is not inevitable. The public must demand an immediate halt to warrantless data-sharing, dismantle the shadow networks of corporate intermediaries, and enforce strict safeguards against algorithmic bias. Lawmakers must choose: Will they legitimize a surveillance state or uphold the rights that define a free society?   

Source: The Conversation

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