ICE Removes Social Media Post Using MGMT Song After DMCA Takedown

The Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was compelled to remove a social media post featuring a slowed remix of MGMT's 2017 song "Little Dark Age" after the band issued a DMCA takedown request, objecting to the unauthorized use of their music in what they called a propaganda video. The post showed federal agents arresting protesters and was captioned, "End of the Dark Age, beginning of the Golden Age." Despite removal from ICE’s X account, the video remained on DHS Instagram and Bluesky accounts without the song. MGMT, whose song critiques Trump-era America and police violence, expressed outrage as the track has been ironically co-opted by far-right and extremist groups, notably becoming popular among neo-Nazi creators on TikTok. The band has previously condemned political misuses of their music, including its use by the UK Conservative Party. ICE has faced multiple similar controversies involving music and public criticism, highlighting ongoing tensions between the agency and various cultural figures.