TechCrunch Industry News Google sent personal and financial information of student journalist to ICE; plus, Nearly half of xAI’s founding team has now left the company
Feb 11, 2026
A major tech company turned over a student journalist's personal and financial metadata to immigration authorities. Civil liberties groups urge platforms to push back against broad DHS subpoenas. Several founding members have left a high-profile AI startup, and insiders debate whether leadership, product issues, or IPO pressure explain the departures.
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Administrative Subpoenas Risk De-Anonymizing Users
- Google complied with an ICE administrative subpoena and handed over a student-journalist's personal and financial metadata.
- Administrative subpoenas let agencies request identifiable metadata without judge approval, raising de-anonymization risks.
Student-Journalist's Data Was Disclosed
- Amandla Thomas Johnson, a British student and journalist at Cornell, had Google turn over addresses, IPs, phone numbers and financial details after attending a protest.
- The subpoena arrived shortly after his student visa was revoked, according to reporting and his statement.
Digital Rights Groups Urge Companies To Push Back
- Civil liberties groups warn tech companies are too quick to comply with DHS/ICE administrative subpoenas.
- The EFF urged companies to demand court confirmation and notify users to allow legal challenges.