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tored | on: DOGE has 'god mode' access to government data
So if DOGE have security clearances (unclear if the have) then their audit is legal?
throw0101d | 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...

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panzagl | 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.

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InsideOutSanta | parent
IANAL, but there are other laws governing what DOGE is doing that they are violating, such as transparency laws.