Media News Daily: Top Stories for 02/11/2026

This page hosts daily news stories about the media, social media, and the journalism industry. Get the latest Hirings and Firings, Media Transactions, Controversies, Censorship Issues, and more.

Google Shared Full Financial Data of Exiled Journalist with ICE

Google handed over extensive personal data to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Amandla Thomas-Johnson, a British journalist and student activist, following a brief protest at Cornell University in 2024. The information included credit card and bank account numbers, IP masking services, and detailed service use. Thomas-Johnson was not given notice before Google complied. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and ACLU have since called on tech firms to resist such data demands without court oversight. Legal experts argue that Google’s actions may conflict with federal privacy laws and the company’s own privacy policy. (Read More) (The Intercept Rating)

Don Lemon Hires Ex-Federal Prosecutor for Civil Rights Case

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has hired Joseph Thompson, a former top official in the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota, to defend him against federal civil rights charges. Thompson resigned amid controversy over the Justice Department’s handling of a separate police shooting case in Minneapolis. Lemon faces charges linked to his coverage of a protest against a church pastor who also works as a federal immigration officer. He maintains he acted as a journalist. His legal team includes high-profile attorney Abbe Lowell. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)

VP Vance’s Office Deletes Tweet Acknowledging Armenian Genocide

Vice President J.D. Vance’s office deleted a tweet recognizing the Armenian genocide after posting photos of a wreath-laying at the Armenian Genocide Memorial. Staff later claimed the post was made in error. The Trump administration does not officially acknowledge the 1915 massacre as genocide, reversing a precedent set by President Biden in 2021. Critics, including the Armenian National Committee of America, condemned the deletion as a denialist act. Vance, visiting Armenia as the first sitting U.S. VP to do so, said the visit was “a sign of respect” for the victims and the Armenian people. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)