Tell Google: Don’t Help Trump Spy on Americans

Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security is trying to secretly snoop on journalists, nonprofits, unions, and activists — and Google must not help them do it.

According to new reporting, DHS has been using an obscure customs law to demand private information from social media and telecommunications companies without judicial oversight. 

In one alarming case, after a judge rejected the government’s attempt to get YouTube account information connected to journalists covering a protest, DHS came back with a different demand — this time aimed at Google and issued without a judge’s approval.

The government should not be able to weaponize a customs statute to dig through Americans’ digital lives, identify journalists’ sources, or intimidate people for reporting, organizing, protesting, or criticizing ICE.

Tell Google: Don’t help Trump spy on Americans. Reject unlawful DHS demands, fight federal government overreach in court, and protect users from government surveillance abuse.

Google reportedly pushed back on the DHS summons in this case. That matters. But this cannot be handled one request at a time, behind closed doors, while users are left confused, exposed, or forced to hire expensive lawyers just to defend their own privacy.

Google has the legal resources, technical power, and public responsibility to stand between its users and abusive government surveillance. When DHS tries to bypass judges, Google should refuse to comply, notify affected users whenever legally possible, and challenge these demands in court before handing over anyone’s data.

Add your name to our petition to demand that Google stop Trump’s DHS from turning private user data into a political surveillance weapon.

The petition to Google reads: "Reject unlawful and overbroad DHS demands for user data, challenge abusive 19 USC 1509 summonses in court, notify affected users whenever legally possible, and refuse to help the Trump administration spy on journalists, nonprofits, unions, activists, or ordinary Americans."