February 15, 2026
Subpoenas, memes, and mayhem
DHS has reportedly sent out subpoenas to identify ICE critics online
Google, Reddit and Meta pulled into 'Big Brother' hunt
TLDR: DHS asked big tech for identities of ICE critics using hundreds of subpoenas, and some companies complied while the ACLU fights back. Commenters are split between privacy panic and calls to force DHS into court, with jokes about “Big Brother” and “psyop” highlighting fears of a chilling effect on speech.
The internet is on fire after a New York Times report that the Department of Homeland Security sent hundreds of administrative subpoenas to Google, Reddit, Discord, and Meta, asking for names, emails, and phone numbers of people who criticized ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) or posted agent locations. Commenters immediately split: some cried “Big Brother!”, others asked whether tech giants would fold or fight. One cynic sneered, “They’ll take the money and run,” while another called the subpoenas a “polite request” that ICE drops when someone pushes back. Even the ACLU’s vibe is alarm bells, calling the surge “a whole other level of frequency and lack of accountability.”
Users fumed that this isn’t just about legal process—it’s about why the government wants Americans’ data at all. Google said it reviews every demand and notifies users unless blocked, and some platforms give people about two weeks to fight in court, as seen in a Pennsylvania case where the ACLU jumped in. Meanwhile, the drama spiked when Meta started blocking links to ICE List, and Rep. Jamie Raskin pressed Apple and Google over disappeared ICE-tracking apps. The meme stream? “Subpoena speedrun,” “1984 called,” and “this IS the psyop.” Expect more courtroom showdowns—and more comment-section fireworks
Key Points
- •DHS reportedly sent hundreds of administrative subpoenas to Google, Reddit, Discord and Meta seeking user-identifying information tied to anti-ICE posts and location reporting.
- •Administrative subpoenas, historically rare and used for serious crimes, have increased in use over the past year, according to The New York Times.
- •Google, Meta and Reddit complied with some requests; Google says it reviews demands, protects privacy, and notifies users unless legally barred.
- •Meta notified targeted users in a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania case and set a 10-day deadline for court challenges; the ACLU filed a motion opposing the subpoenas.
- •Meta began blocking links to the ICE List website in late January, and Rep. Jamie Raskin asked Apple and Google for DOJ communications about ICE‑tracking app removals.