Exclusive: FBI gets voter's IP address in new fraud probe tactic
The Trump administration has a new tactic for trying to isolate cases of alleged voter fraud — digging into the IP addresses of those who went online to register to vote.The FBI recently obtained the IP address of someone who registered online in South Carolina, according to documents first shared with Axios.Why it matters: The bureau's request for the address, which state and local officials complied with, offers a glimpse of how federal authorities are stepping up their probe of voter rolls and registration practices under pressure from President Trump.The president's persistent complaints about the 2020 election have expanded into federal investigations that also involve the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security.It's unclear how often the FBI plans to take the extraordinary step of seeking IP addresses, but its push in South Carolina has broad implications nationwide: 43 states allow some form of online voter registration. An IP address would show a user's geographic location and service provider, but not their specific identity.
Reported by 1 outlet — Axios. See all sources ↓
The FBI asked for and received the Internet Protocol (IP) address of a person who registered to vote online in South Carolina. State and local officials provided the address to the FBI. This is part of a new effort by the Trump administration to look for possible voter fraud. The request shows how federal agencies are using online data in their investigations.
Why it matters
It shows the government is using technical data to check voter rolls, which could affect how elections are monitored. Some people worry this might threaten voter privacy and trust in the election process.
- What did the FBI get?
- The FBI got the IP address of a voter who registered online in South Carolina.
- Why is this important?
- It shows the government is using online information to look for possible voter fraud, raising privacy concerns.
How outlets are framing the same story
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All outlets frame the story the same way, focusing on the FBI obtaining a voter's IP address as a new fraud‑probe tactic.
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Exclusive: FBI gets voter's IP address in new fraud probe tactic
Sources1TypeCoverageAxios