Dwain Northey (Gen X)

The recent revelations surrounding Elon Musk’s teams gaining access to Social Security information have sparked widespread outrage, raising serious constitutional concerns. Such unauthorized access—if proven—would represent a direct violation of the right to privacy, protected under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Government-held data, particularly sensitive identifiers like Social Security numbers, is meant to be shielded from private entities unless clear legal authority is granted. If Musk’s companies accessed this data without proper oversight, it would signal a dangerous breach of legal and ethical boundaries.

This issue transcends partisan politics and taps into fundamental American principles: the protection of individual rights and the sanctity of personal data. It also raises pressing questions about how tech magnates and their corporations interact with government systems, and whether the safeguards meant to prevent such intrusions are functioning effectively. The public deserves transparency and accountability from both private companies and the government. Allowing private interests to exploit Social Security data sets a troubling precedent that cannot go unchallenged.