DHS Issues Hundreds of Subpoenas to Unmask Anonymous Anti-ICE Social Media Accounts

14.02.2026

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has significantly escalated efforts to compel technology companies to disclose the identities of social media account owners who criticize Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to recent investigative reporting.

This development represents a dramatic expansion of a practice that was previously employed sparingly. Sources indicate that DHS has issued hundreds of administrative subpoenas to major technology platforms including Google, Reddit, Discord, and Meta in recent months.

The subpoenas specifically target accounts meeting the following criteria:

• Anonymous accounts without real name attribution
• Accounts posting content critical of ICE operations
• Accounts sharing information regarding ICE agent locations

A critical aspect of this enforcement strategy involves the use of administrative subpoenas, which notably do not require judicial approval, raising significant concerns about oversight and due process in government surveillance activities.

Previous reporting documented at least five cases where DHS attempted to unmask anonymous Instagram account owners, with the department ultimately withdrawing subpoenas after the targeted users initiated legal action. However, the current scale of subpoena issuance suggests a systematic approach rather than isolated incidents.

Platform Response

Major technology companies have reportedly complied with at least some of these requests. Google stated that the company notifies users of such subpoenas when legally permissible and challenges requests deemed "overbroad." Meta and Reddit have also reportedly provided user information in certain cases, though the exact scope of compliance remains unclear.

This development highlights ongoing tensions between government surveillance capabilities, platform cooperation obligations, and user privacy rights, particularly concerning anonymous political speech and criticism of federal agencies.

Sources:
The New York Times - DHS Anti-ICE Social Media Investigation
Bloomberg - DHS Arguments to Compel Meta User Data
The Washington Post - Homeland Security Administrative Subpoena Investigation