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Fact check: Post Title: Hegseth had an unsecured internet line set up in his office to connect to Signal, AP sources say Original Reddit link: https://www.reddit.com/r/signal/s/vOLVtZRG88
1. Summary of the results
The claim about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's unsecured internet line is strongly supported by multiple independent sources. Multiple analyses confirm that:
- Hegseth had a "dirty" line installed specifically to use Signal on a personal computer [1] [1]
- The line deliberately bypassed Pentagon security protocols [2]
- The setup was confirmed by two separate sources familiar with the situation [3]
- The unsecured line was installed directly at his desk [3]
- The matter is currently under investigation by the Defense Department's acting inspector-general [2]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original statement:
- The Pentagon's official response: They did not directly deny the claim, only stating that Hegseth doesn't use Signal on his government computer [1]
- The setup potentially violates federal record-keeping laws [2]
- The line connected directly to the public internet, making it particularly vulnerable to surveillance [3]
- This wasn't just any unsecured line - it was specifically set up to use Signal, which is not authorized for sensitive communications [1]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original statement actually understates the severity of the situation by:
- Not mentioning the ongoing inspector general investigation [2]
- Omitting the potential legal implications regarding federal record-keeping requirements [2]
- Not emphasizing that this was an intentional bypass of security protocols rather than an oversight [2]
The consistency across multiple sources (AP, Reuters, ABC) and the specificity of the details suggest this is a well-documented situation rather than speculative reporting. The Pentagon's careful wording in their response - denying only Signal use on government computers rather than addressing the personal computer setup - adds credibility to the reporting [1].