Is the Trump administration trying to unmask anonymous online critics in violation of the First Amendment? Two lawsuits have been filed recently to force Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to turn over information regarding their alleged unconstitutional use of administrative subpoenas.
Since President Donald Trump retook office in January 2025, tech companies have reportedly seen an increased number of administrative subpoenas from the DHS and ICE demanding identifying information of certain users, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and other identifying information. Known as unmasking subpoenas, these subpoenas are issued by the DHS and don't require judicial approval. Historically, unmasking subpoenas have been used to investigate serious crimes like child trafficking, reports The New York Times. But tech companies like Google, Reddit, Discord, and Meta told the Times that they've received hundreds of these subpoenas in recent months, often to identify anonymous users who have criticized ICE or shared information about ICE operations—all of which is firmly protected activity under the First Amendment.
