The **Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)** has filed complaints with the attorneys general of California and New York, urging investigations into **Google**'s data disclosure practices. The EFF alleges that Google violated its promise to provide users with prior notice before disclosing their information to law enforcement, a practice they've termed 'simultaneous notice'. ## Broken Promises and 'Simultaneous Notice' For nearly a decade, **Google** has assured users that they would be notified before their personal data was shared with law enforcement. While the company has often adhered to this commitment, the EFF argues that a hidden practice has led to numerous violations. The case of Amandla Thomas-Johnson, a Ph.D. candidate targeted by **U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)**, highlights this issue. **Google** disclosed Thomas-Johnson's information without prior notice, preventing him from challenging a potentially invalid subpoena. "Google should answer the question: How many other times has it broken its promise to users?” said EFF Senior Staff Attorney F. Mario Trujillo. "Advance notice is especially important now, when agencies like ICE are unconstitutionally targeting users for First Amendment-protected activity. State attorneys general should investigate Google for this deception." ## Google's Policy vs. Reality **Google's** Privacy & Terms page states that "When we receive a request from a government agency, we send an email to the user account before disclosing information.” This policy aims to empower users to protect their privacy and contest potentially unlawful demands. However, in May 2025, **Google** complied with an ICE administrative subpoena for Thomas-Johnson's subscriber information, including his name, address, and IP address, *before* notifying him. The EFF's investigation revealed that this isn't an isolated incident. According to **Google's** outside counsel, when the company faces government-imposed deadlines for subpoena compliance, it sometimes resorts to “simultaneous notice,” where it provides user notification on the same day it complies with the request. ## The Call for Accountability "What this experience has made clear is that anyone can be targeted by law enforcement," said Thomas-Johnson. "And with their massive stores of data, technology companies can facilitate those arbitrary investigations. Who, exactly, can I hold accountable?" The EFF is urging **Google** to end this practice and compensate for past transgressions. They are calling on the attorneys general of California and New York to investigate **Google**, enforce its public commitment to providing advance notice, and take appropriate action. **Further Information:** * EFF Letter re: Google Notice (California): [https://www.eff.org/document/eff-letter-re-google-notice-california](https://www.eff.org/document/eff-letter-re-google-notice-california) * EFF Letter re: Google Notice (New York): [https://www.eff.org/document/eff-letter-re-google-notice-new-york](https://www.eff.org/document/eff-letter-re-google-notice-new-york) * EFF Letter re: Google Notice (Exhibits): [https://www.eff.org/document/eff-letter-re-google-notice-exhibits](https://www.eff.org/document/eff-letter-re-google-notice-exhibits) * Thomas-Johnson's Account: [https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/google-broke-its-promise-me-now-ice-has-my-data](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/google-broke-its-promise-me-now-ice-has-my-data) * Lawless DHS Subpoenas: [https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/02/open-letter-tech-companies-protect-your-users-lawless-dhs-subpoenas](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/02/open-letter-tech-companies-protect-your-users-lawless-dhs-subpoenas)