Federal employees express increasing distrust toward platforms like Facebook.
The chaos in Washington D.C. is prompting some to move to new platforms.
As Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump have sought to profoundly modify the structure of the federal government, public employees have begun to change the way they communicate with each other and with their friends. They have restricted communication channels, migrating to new platforms, and an initial skepticism has evolved into deep distrust, not only towards their superiors but also towards the very services they use to communicate, fearing that their messages may be filtered to the government.
A number of federal employees who preferred to remain anonymous mentioned that they have decided to move sensitive conversations from messaging apps like SMS and Facebook Messenger to the encrypted messaging app Signal. For many of them, this is their first contact with Signal, seeking to escape the surveillance of Trump and Musk loyalists, as well as larger tech companies. Some of these conversations have been entirely moved, keeping only the less sensitive exchanges on conventional platforms. A USAID worker commented on the need to converse on two different platforms, revealing the level of current distrust.
Other workers have indicated that they have asked not to be contacted via Facebook Messenger and have requested to move any work-related discussions to Signal. The concern lies in the fact that tech companies that cooperate with the Trump administration, such as Meta, could hand over user information to the government. One worry is that user data could be exploited by artificial intelligence tools to track and target those who dissent from the administration.
This atmosphere of distrust also stems from the closeness of some tech companies to the Trump administration, where figures like Mark Zuckerberg have tried to maintain good relationships, while criticisms regarding changes in services, such as a Google calendar that eliminated significant celebrations, increase concern.
Privacy experts have warned about how tech companies' data could be used against their users, highlighting cases where Meta handed over unencrypted chat records in investigations regarding access to abortion. Meta has stated that it continues to comply with applicable laws and publishes reports on the requests it receives, although it has been shown that government agencies have sought ways to obtain data without a court order.
The way law enforcement seeks to evade legal requirements creates an atmosphere of unease among federal employees. According to legal experts, providing data to investigative agencies can be complex and often occurs without due transparency. Privacy advocates have emphasized the need for strong protective measures, such as end-to-end encryption, to ensure the confidentiality of communications.
Online forums like r/fednews have become spaces where security tips and warnings about monitoring employee activities are exchanged. Signal, which offers encrypted messaging, allows users to set disappearing messages and use usernames to maintain their anonymity. However, even on Signal, surveillance is constant, with some federal employees taking additional precautions to protect their identities.
