US Immigration Authorities Plan to Expand Social Media Surveillance, Hire 30 Contractors
The US immigration authorities are moving to dramatically expand their social media surveillance capabilities, with plans to hire nearly 30 contractors to sift through posts, photos, and messages on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. According to federal contracting records reviewed by WIRED, the agency is seeking private vendors to run a multiyear surveillance program out of two of its little-known targeting centers in Vermont and Southern California.
The program envisions stationing nearly 30 private analysts at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, where they will scour social media for raw material to be transformed into intelligence for deportation raids and arrests. This expansion of social media surveillance is part of a broader effort by ICE to enhance its online monitoring capabilities, which have been criticized in the past for being overly broad and invasive.
According to an ICE spokesperson, the agency's goal is to "identify and disrupt" potential threats to national security and public safety through its expanded surveillance program. However, critics argue that such efforts could lead to the targeting of innocent individuals and communities, particularly those with marginalized identities or immigrant backgrounds.
The expansion of social media surveillance by ICE has sparked concerns among civil liberties groups and experts in the field. "This is a classic example of how law enforcement agencies are increasingly relying on private contractors to do their dirty work," said Jennifer Lynch, a senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). "By outsourcing this work to private vendors, ICE can avoid transparency and accountability for its actions."
The proposed program has also raised questions about data protection and the potential for misuse of sensitive information. According to WIRED's review of federal contracting records, the agency is seeking contractors who will be responsible for collecting, analyzing, and storing vast amounts of social media data, which could include personal identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive details.
The expansion of ICE's social media surveillance program comes as the agency faces growing scrutiny over its handling of immigration cases. In recent months, several high-profile reports have highlighted concerns about the agency's use of facial recognition technology, its reliance on private contractors for detention services, and its treatment of migrant families at the US-Mexico border.
The proposed program is currently in the bidding phase, with interested vendors submitting proposals to ICE by a deadline set for later this month. Once selected, the contractors will be responsible for implementing the surveillance program over the next several years, with an estimated cost of tens of millions of dollars.
As the debate over social media surveillance and immigration policy continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the expansion of ICE's online monitoring capabilities has significant implications for individual freedoms, community trust, and national security.
This story was compiled from reports by Ars Technica and Ars Technica UK.
