In the United States, Social Security (SSA) is once again at the center of a major controversy. Everything escalated after a very serious complaint from several members of the data team itself. This is a practice that puts the privacy of millions of people at risk.
The issue has been linked to DOGE, the agency's data management system. It has sparked a debate about the way officials are handling sensitive information. The controversy arose when Charles Borges, SSA's data director, filed a formal complaint.
Maximum alert at SSA in the United States: you're in danger
According to him, some Social Security officials had been uploading information to a cloud server without authorization in June of this year. The problem is that this database contained personal data of beneficiaries. This is something that should never leave SSA's official system.
This action, apparently routine, has been described as dangerous and contrary to the security rules governing DOGE. Borges's complaint has caused alarm because it exposes a weakness in the way Social Security protects citizens' information in the United States.
Millions of beneficiaries are stunned by this DOGE practice
The mere idea that officials could upload entire database files to an external server raises suspicions about the risks of cyberattacks and unauthorized access. That's why, since the case came to light, many beneficiaries have been living with unease.
The government reacted quickly. SSA itself issued a statement confirming that they were reviewing DOGE's security protocols. In addition, they explained that an internal investigation had been opened to clarify who authorized these practices and under what conditions they were carried out.
The announcement, although intended to convey calm, has caused even more debate. Many believe that if SSA's data director has taken such a forceful step, it's because the danger is real and serious. In his statements, Borges made it clear that this isn't an isolated attack, but a structural problem.
Charles Borges's complaint has put the focus on the U.S. government
For him, uploading to a cloud server data that belong to millions of beneficiaries not only violates internal rules. It also undermines the trust of the entire system. His words have triggered a domino effect of reactions, from politicians demanding transparency to cybersecurity experts calling for an urgent strengthening of measures.
What seemed like a technical procedure turned into a scandal that continues to make headlines today. The complaint has put United States Social Security under pressure and has opened a national debate about how to truly protect citizens' data from officials' failures and the risks of the cloud.