A Venmo account under the name “Michael Waltz,” the US national security adviser, was found to be publicly accessible, revealing sensitive personal and professional connections until it was made private following an inquiry by WIRED. This public account disclosed a network of 328 friends, including journalists, military personnel, and lobbyists, posing potential risks for espionage or exploitation by foreign intelligence services.
The findings highlighted that other top officials, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, also had personal connections exposed on Venmo. These accounts are linked to individuals involved in a controversial group chat on Signal, where sensitive discussions regarding military operations were inadvertently shared with journalists.
After WIRED reached out to the White House, both Waltz’s and Wiles’ Venmo accounts were promptly switched to private. The inquiry echoed a previous incident reported by The Atlantic, where Waltz mistakenly invited the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic to a Signal chat discussing plans for a military strike on Yemen, underscoring a troubling trend of careless handling of sensitive information among high-ranking officials.
In addition to military and political figures, the Venmo friend lists included a variety of media personalities and ordinary citizens. Experts noted that even benign connections can be leveraged by adversaries looking for weaknesses in security. The systems of public exposure linked to Venmo and similar platforms are viewed as inadequate for individuals in positions of power, increasing their vulnerability to intelligence gathering.
The broader implications of these revelations suggest a worrying trend within the national security community, where key figures have repeatedly failed to protect sensitive information. Former intelligence analysts expressed concern over the security risks posed by such oversights, emphasizing the ease with which adversaries could potentially exploit these vulnerabilities.
The account structure of Venmo, which previously defaulted to public visibility, has drawn criticism from privacy advocates. Despite changes made in recent years to allow users to hide their friend lists, many, including Waltz and Wiles, had not opted for increased privacy measures until questioned by media sources.
This incident is not an isolated case but part of a worrying pattern within the national security establishment, marked by oversights and naïveté regarding personal privacy and public accessibility of sensitive connections. While no direct evidence has linked foreign intelligence to the improper use of Venmo data, the potential for exploitation exists, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and protective measures among government officials.
