February 13, 2026
Delete Key Cardio
Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts
DHS Wants Anti-ICE Posters Unmasked — Reddit, Fediverse and Hacker News melt down
TLDR: DHS sent hundreds of requests to big tech firms to unmask people behind anti-ICE posts, sparking online uproar. Commenters split between civil-liberties panic, “told you so” Patriot Act warnings, and pragmatic “it’s public anyway” takes—plus jokes that the Fediverse won’t save your username.
Buckle up: the Department of Homeland Security has blasted Google, Meta, Reddit, and Discord with hundreds of subpoenas asking for the real names and contact info behind accounts that criticize or track ICE (the U.S. immigration agency). The report set off a full-on internet freakout.
The loudest chorus? Civil liberties alarm bells. One commenter said this was exactly what people warned about after 9/11, calling it the “inevitable” result of Patriot Act-era powers. Another panicked: “How long before they come for Hacker News?” Cue keyboard stampedes to the delete button and grim jokes about “username witness protection.”
Then came the nerd fight: is the Fediverse (a network of independent social sites) a safer haven? One user asked if a European-based server could shield identities when posts jump to U.S. servers. Techies clapped back: “It’s public social media—by definition, the data’s out there.” Translation: decentralization isn’t a magic cloak.
Meanwhile, a minority shrugged: if you post it, expect it to be seen. But most readers saw a bright red line: government fishing for critics’ identities feels like speech-policing. The memes? “Subpoena Season,” “Delete Key Cardio,” and “Fediverse Isn’t a Force Field.” Whether you’re doomscrolling or doom-deleting, the vibe is panic with a side of ‘told you so.’
Key Points
- •DHS is expanding efforts to identify Americans who oppose ICE.
- •Google, Reddit, Discord and Meta received hundreds of administrative subpoenas from DHS.
- •The subpoenas seek names, email addresses, phone numbers and other identifying data.
- •Targets include accounts that track or criticize ICE on social and communication platforms.
- •Officials and tech workers said the requests have been issued in recent months.