Critics Slam Meta for Blocking Database of Federal Agents: 'A Stance That Helps ICE Agents Retain Anonymity'

Meta has begun blocking users from sharing links to a website that claims to compile names and photos of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, a move that critics say limits public scrutiny of federal agents and raises questions about the boundaries between privacy and accountability.

Users attempting to post links to the database on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads have received messages indicating that the content violates Meta's community standards or is not allowed.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone told Politico the restrictions are tied to policies that prohibit sharing or soliciting personally identifiable information, directing inquiries to the company's privacy rules.

The website's creator, Dominick Skinner, told Wired that links to the project had circulated on Meta platforms for more than six months without issue before the recent block:

"I think it's no surprise that a company run by a man who sat behind Trump at his inauguration, and donated to the destruction of the White House, has taken a stance that helps ICE agents retain anonymity"

Skinner questioned Meta's rationale, noting that other people-finder websites containing personal data remain accessible on the company's platforms. "If there's a policy violation, we are the only one flagged, despite other sites sharing more," he told POLITICO.

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The restrictions emerged amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis following immigration enforcement operations that have led to widespread protests, thousands of arrests, and two fatal shootings. Meta's Stone, however, denied that the restrictions were linked to the site's solicitation of tips about agents involved in the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Meta's enforcement appears uneven across its platforms. WIRED confirmed that links to the site are blocked on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, while they remain shareable on WhatsApp. Messages shown to users vary by platform, ranging from warnings about spam to notices that content violates community standards.

The Trump administration has accused similar projects of "doxing" law enforcement officers and putting them at risk, while tech companies have previously curtailed tools tracking federal agents. Last year, Apple and Google removed the ICEBlock app from their app stores following government pressure, citing safety concerns, prompting the app's developer to sue the Trump administration.

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