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There is no expectation of privacy but there is a need for rules and oversight. Some communications are sensitive - anything involving lawyers, unions, health p
by acdha 2y ago
There is no expectation of privacy but there is a need for rules and oversight. Some communications are sensitive - anything involving lawyers, unions, health providers, etc. has legal considerations - and there is both a concern about whether government data is being shared improperly with third-party companies. For example, if they’re using Grok to analyze text, there’s potentially a huge conflict of interest if any of the communications being analyzed involves regulation of Musk’s companies or the various lawsuits he’s part of.
Similarly, since they’re creating a conflict between perceived political disloyalty and professional ethics you have questions like whether an EPA official whose messages are flagged will have a human review the alleged offenses or be given a chance to defend their actions, or simply be “randomly” included in some RIF. We haven’t had to think about that since the McCarthy / lavender scare era, which significantly predated modern surveillance technology.
Since DOGE is widely reported to be using Signal and private email servers, there is reason to question whether those ethical standards will be followed.
- amazingamazing 2y agoeverything you're saying is correct, and folks should contact their representatives, particularly if those are republicans, to share their concerns.
- palmotea 2y ago>> why would it be bad for federal workers to be surveilled? is there an expectation of privacy while you're working? > they’re creating a conflict between perceived political disloyalty and professional ethics I think that gets to the heart of the matter: what is the purpose of the surveillance? In this case, it appears to be to root out people who have wrongthink about the leaders, e.g. > Musk’s team is rolling out AI to monitor workers, including looking for language in communications considered hostile to Trump or Musk Hostility to Trump or Musk is what you want, if they're pushing to do something illegal or unethical.
- exe34 2y ago> shared improperly with third-party companies. For example, if they’re using Grok to analyze text, there’s potentially a huge conflict of interest if any of the communications being analyzed involves regulation of Musk’s companies or the various lawsuits he’s part of. I don't think this is a problem anymore - hasn't he already cancelled anybody who was investigating him? I assume anybody who wants to keep their job knows to look the other way at this point.