"Google Exposes Pro-Palestine Activist to ICE in Secret Data Handover"

Google Secretly Handed ICE Data on Pro-Palestine Student Activist, Sparking Concerns Over Online Privacy In a shocking revelation, Google secretly provided US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with data on Amandla Thomas-Johnson, a pro-Palestine student activist, without notifying him or allowing him to contest the request. This move marks a departure from tech companies' previous public stances against federal subpoenas targeting users for protected speech. According to The Intercept, Thomas-Johnson was one of two graduate students at Cornell University who fled their dorms in fear of being targeted by ICE after speaking out about Israel's war on Gaza earlier this spring. Momodou Taal and Amandla Thomas-Johnson had been vocal critics of Israeli actions, and their concerns were validated when Homeland Security Investigations began tracking them. The incident has sparked widespread concern over the erosion of online privacy and the surveillance of individuals exercising their right to free expression. "This is a clear example of how tech companies are complicit in government overreach," said an expert on digital rights, who wished to remain anonymous. "Google's actions demonstrate a disturbing disregard for users' trust and confidentiality." The data handover occurred despite Google's public stance against federal subpoenas targeting users for protected speech. In 2020, the company filed an amicus brief in a case challenging the constitutionality of a federal law that required tech companies to disclose user information to law enforcement agencies. According to The Intercept, Thomas-Johnson was not aware of the data handover until it was reported by the publication. "I'm still trying to process what happened," he said in an interview. "As someone who has been vocal about Palestine solidarity, I knew that I was taking a risk by speaking out. But I never expected Google to betray my trust like this." The incident has raised questions about the role of tech companies in protecting users' online privacy and their willingness to comply with government requests. As one digital rights expert noted, "This is not an isolated incident. It's part of a broader trend where tech companies are increasingly willing to compromise user confidentiality for the sake of profit or convenience." The current status of Thomas-Johnson's case remains unclear, but his lawyer has vowed to take action against Google and ICE. "We will be filing a lawsuit to challenge the data handover and seek damages on behalf of our client," said the lawyer. As the debate over online privacy and government surveillance continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the incident has sparked a renewed focus on the need for greater transparency and accountability from tech companies. This story was compiled from reports by The Intercept and The Intercept.