LOGIC.coid – Billionaire Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, is reportedly being used within the U.S. federal government by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team to analyze sensitive data, according to three individuals familiar with the matter. The development is sparking significant concern among privacy experts and legal scholars due to potential conflicts of interest and national security implications.
Sources say DOGE is utilizing a customized version of Grok—developed by Musk's xAI venture launched in 2023—to streamline data analysis, draft reports, and answer complex queries. However, critics argue the tool’s use may violate U.S. privacy and security laws, especially if Grok is granted access to confidential databases containing information on millions of Americans.
Two of the sources revealed that DOGE staff encouraged officials within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adopt Grok, despite the tool lacking official approval for use in the department. DHS oversees several critical national security functions, including immigration enforcement and cybersecurity.
Experts warn that such unauthorized deployment of Grok could provide xAI with backdoor access to federal data and offer Musk’s private ventures—including Tesla and SpaceX—an unfair advantage in government contracting. Legal scholars say Musk's direct involvement, given his role as a special government employee, may violate criminal conflict-of-interest statutes that prohibit officials from engaging in activities that benefit them financially.
“This gives the appearance that DOGE is pressuring agencies to use software to enrich Musk and xAI, and not to the benefit of the American people,” said Richard Painter, former ethics counsel to President George W. Bush.
Privacy watchdogs express further alarm over DOGE’s access to “heavily safeguarded” databases, warning of risks such as data leaks, misuse, and national security threats. Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, described the situation as “one of the most serious privacy threats imaginable.”
Further complicating matters, two additional sources confirmed DOGE had recently attempted to access DHS employee emails and directed staff to train Grok—or a related AI system—to flag personnel who might not be “loyal” to former President Donald Trump’s political agenda. Such actions may breach civil service laws protecting government employees from political targeting.
Within the Department of Defense, a small group of staff were reportedly told by supervisors that their computer activity was being monitored using an unspecified algorithmic tool. Although the Pentagon denied DOGE’s involvement in surveillance or the use of Grok for monitoring, it acknowledged that all government systems are subject to standard monitoring.
Despite these concerns, Musk has announced plans to reduce his time with DOGE to one or two days per week. However, DOGE’s operations are expected to continue, spearheaded by team members such as Kyle Schutt and Edward Coristine—a 19-year-old known online as “Big Balls.”
Neither Musk, xAI, nor the White House responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
As federal agencies grapple with the ethical and legal implications of AI in government operations, experts stress the need for oversight and transparency to prevent potential abuse and protect the privacy of American citizens.