An advocacy group has alleged that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is being less than transparent, hiding documents related to Chairman Brendan Carr's use of Signal—a popular messaging app. The case highlights potential conflicts of interest between DOGE’s activities and Elon Musk’s ambitions at SpaceX and Starlink.

The plaintiffs argue that the FCC has acted in bad faith by redefining search criteria without notice and concealing evidence of a Signal account used for official business. This echoes last year's lawsuit, which claimed the FCC violated Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) rules.

Federal Judge criticism followed an earlier vague response, ordering the FCC to produce documents that could reveal the extent of Musk’s influence over DOGE and his companies' dealings with the commission.

The stakes are high: if true, this would suggest a deep-rooted network of corporate and governmental interests, where regulatory power is bought and sold. The question remains—can we trust our regulators when their communications may be encrypted?