The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is calling on California and New York’s attorneys general to investigate Google for allegedly failing to notify users before handing over their personal data to immigration authorities such as ICE. This comes after a former PhD candidate, Amandla Thomas-Johnson, revealed that his Google email was accessed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without his knowledge.

Thomas-Johnson, who had left the country fearing deportation under the Trump administration, discovered the subpoena only after being informed by Google. Cornell University failed to provide any information regarding access to his university account. The EFF argues that this is not an isolated incident and that Google has violated user privacy promises in multiple cases.

Google maintains that its processes are designed to protect user privacy while complying with legal demands, pushing back against overly broad or improper requests. However, the EFF contends that administrative subpoenas issued by immigration authorities are a violation of First Amendment rights and can be issued without judicial approval. They are seeking civil penalties for past violations.

“Google should commit to ending its deception and pay for its past mistakes,” said an EFF spokesperson in letters sent to California and New York attorneys general, requesting investigations into Google’s practices.”