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tored | on: DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data
Which laws? The article describes security clearance.
InsideOutSanta | parent
Security clearances are based on laws, such as the ones compiled in Title 50 U.S. Code §3341.
tored | root | parent
So if DOGE have security clearances (unclear if the have) then their audit is legal?
throw0101d | root | parent | next
> So if DOGE have security clearances (unclear if the have) then their audit is legal?

They're also responsible liable for keeping the data safe, which has already been broken at least once:

* https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43052432

Possibly violating:

> Whoever knowingly and willfully communicates, furnishes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to an unauthorized person, or publishes, or uses in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detriment of the United States any classified information— […]

* https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/798

tored | root | parent
As long as they keep the data safe the audit is legal?
dmix | root | parent | next
CIGIE has done similar stuff in the past, it was created under George W Bush

> continually identifies, reviews, and discusses areas of weakness and vulnerability in Federal programs and operations with respect to fraud, waste, and abuse;

> develops plans for coordinated, Government wide activities that address these problems and promote economy and efficiency in Federal programs and operations, including interagency and inter-entity audit, investigation, inspection, and evaluation programs and projects to deal efficiently and effectively with those problems concerning fraud and waste that exceed the capability or jurisdiction of an individual agency or entity;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_the_Inspectors_Gene...

watwut | root | parent | next
It is possible to do legal audits of secret data. DOGE is not doing an audit.
| root | parent
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panzagl | root | parent | next
Clearance does not allow indiscriminate access, it just means you are theoretically trustable. You still need a reason to access the data, usually negotiated with the data owners, who is legally responsible for protecting the data. DOGE has bypassed all of that to just hoover up whatever they can.
moduspol | root | parent
They were hired to, and authorized explicitly by the President to access that data. In writing.

That's as valid of a reason as you can get in the executive branch.

panzagl | root | parent
Not really, whoever allows access could be prosecuted for failing any of a number of laws and regs for just rolling over so it would come down to a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. The proper way to do it would be to work through both the organization's chain of command and send clearances through the security chain. Maybe that's being followed, but given the stories and timelines, I doubt it- Musk's war boys wouldn't even have time to obtain a clearance from scratch 3 weeks into the administration.
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InsideOutSanta | root | parent
IANAL, but there are other laws governing what DOGE is doing that they are violating, such as transparency laws.