The DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) team in the United States has started deploying the Grok artificial intelligence tool across federal agencies. This move has raised serious concerns regarding data privacy and conflicts of interest. Through this tool, sensitive information about millions of Americans is being analyzed, which poses both legal and ethical risks.
Grok is an AI chatbot developed by xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk in 2023 on the X platform (formerly Twitter). The DOGE team uses a specialized version of Grok for internal reporting, data analysis, and responding to inquiries. The tool has even been recommended for use by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), although it has not been officially approved by the agency.
Conflicts of Interest and Confidential Data
Several government and technology ethics experts warn that Grok’s handling of sensitive data could violate federal privacy laws. Additionally, there are concerns that Elon Musk’s xAI company might be gaining unfair competitive advantages by training its AI with non-public government data.
Experts also state that if Elon Musk personally participated in these decisions, it could constitute a breach of conflict of interest laws. According to U.S. legislation, public officials are prohibited from making decisions that serve their personal interests.
AI Monitoring and Political Loyalty
It is alleged that DOGE staff have attempted to access DHS employees’ emails and used AI tools to identify workers who are not loyal to former President Trump’s political agenda. This could violate laws protecting government employees from political pressure.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has stated that DOGE has not been involved in any network monitoring activities related to AI. However, some employees report that their computer activities have been monitored recently.
