Immigration agents have new technology to identify and track people
14 days ago
- #privacy
- #immigration
- #surveillance
- ICE is acquiring new surveillance tools including facial recognition and iris scanning apps to identify and monitor individuals.
- The Trump administration aims to increase deportations to a million a year, leveraging these technologies.
- Democratic senators and privacy advocates raise concerns about the lack of oversight and potential violations of privacy and constitutional rights.
- A video shows Border Patrol agents using facial recognition technology on minors, sparking further controversy.
- ICE's Mobile Fortify app can access extensive personal data, including citizenship status, and stores photos for 15 years.
- DHS proposes expanding biometric data collection from noncitizens and their relatives, including facial images and DNA.
- ICE revived a contract with Paragon Solutions, known for spyware like Graphite, which can monitor phones without user interaction.
- Privacy experts warn that these technologies erode anonymity and could be weaponized against dissenters.
- ICE and DHS defend the use of technology as necessary for law enforcement, citing crime prevention.
- Public comment on DHS's proposed biometric data rule is open until early January.