Dogequest's Tesla Owner Data Leak: Privacy Concerns & Backlash

Marian Baumbach 19 May 2025

Is the digital age truly a bastion of freedom, or has it become a hunting ground for personal information? The emergence of "Dogequest," a website targeting Tesla owners with the apparent intention of shaming and intimidation, suggests the latter, raising serious questions about privacy, security, and the potential for online platforms to be weaponized.

The digital landscape, once envisioned as a democratizing force, is increasingly fraught with peril. The case of Dogequest, which surfaced in early 2025, demonstrates the dark underbelly of the internet, where personal data can be harvested, weaponized, and used to inflict harm. The website, an anonymous entity, gained notoriety for publishing what it claimed to be the personal details of Tesla owners across the United States. This included names, addresses, and phone numbers, all displayed on an interactive map, essentially turning private information into public fodder. The stated goal, as hinted by the website's rhetoric, appears to be an attempt to shame and intimidate Tesla owners, possibly due to CEO Elon Musk's association with the Trump administration.

Dogequest, which presented itself as the ultimate hub for enthusiasts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), added fuel to the fire. This ambiguous association with the DOGE, headed by Musk, further muddies the waters, leaving many to wonder about the true intentions behind the website and its creators.

Information Category	Details
Website Name	Dogequest
Website's Primary Action	Publicly released personal data of Tesla owners on an interactive map, including names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Motivation (Alleged)	Shaming and intimidation of Tesla owners, possibly due to Elon Musk's associations.
Targeted Group	Tesla vehicle owners
Other Data Published	Information on Tesla dealerships, approximate locations of Tesla Supercharger stations, and potentially data on DOGE employees
Website Status	Offline after facing backlash and legal threats
Associated Actions	FBI investigations into arson attacks on Tesla service centers.
Ethical Concerns Raised	Privacy violations, potential for incitement of violence and vandalism, and misuse of personal information.
Notable Quote from the Site	"At Dogequest, we believe in empowering creative expressions of protest that you can execute from the comfort of your own home.
Additional Information	Reports of the site's existence began circulating on March 17. The sites content also allegedly included information on workers affiliated with the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is headed by Musk.
Official Response	Elon Musk condemned the site and called for action against the attackers.
Removal Policy	The website claimed it would remove the personal details of Tesla drivers only if they could prove they had sold their vehicles.