From TechCrunch · Zack Whittaker · · 1m 40s
Bluesky blocks leaked DHS employee data as government seeks takedowns
After hackers stole over 40,000 Department of Homeland Security employee records, Bluesky blocked links to the leaked dataset while the government filed takedown notices.
In brief
After hackers stole over 40,000 Department of Homeland Security employee records, Bluesky blocked links to the leaked dataset while the government filed takedown notices. Bluesky blocked links to leaked DHS employee data after hackers obtained over 40,000 records, as the government filed takedown notices to remove the…
Hackers breach DHS login system
A hacker obtained over 40,000 user account records from the Department of Homeland Security's login system, including names and contact information of employees and agents working for agencies like Customs and Border Protection and Immigration…
DDoSecrets publishes the leaked data
Nonprofit transparency collective DDoSecrets made the hacked data publicly available. Researchers investigating abuses by the Trump administration say the data will be invaluable for seeking records from the government under public records laws.
Bluesky blocks links to the dataset
Bluesky marked links to DDoSecrets as malicious and blocked users from accessing the nonprofit's website.
DDoSecrets defends the publication
DDoSecrets co-founder Emma Best said Bluesky's terms prohibit sharing home addresses and personal contact information, but neither is in the leaked dataset.
“The data contains professional contact information for government employees at a time when the public interest in that exact information has never been higher.”
Government files takedown notices
Homeland Security filed a takedown notice via security vendor ZeroFox, which has authority to act on the department's behalf until 2028.
“stop serving the personal contact and location data of individuals who did not consent to its publication.”
Search site taken offline by registrar
A searchable database called Icepick, made by journalist maia arson crimew, was taken offline after its domain registrar placed it on serverHold following the government's takedown notice.
Local copy remains accessible
Crimew also created a locally hosted version of the data, allowing anyone to access it on their own computer, keeping the information available despite the government's takedown efforts and platform blocking.
In short
Bluesky blocked links to leaked DHS employee data after hackers obtained over 40,000 records, as the government filed takedown notices to remove the information from the internet.
