ICE Plans to Build 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team
In a move that has raised concerns about government overreach, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is planning to expand its social media surveillance capabilities by hiring nearly 30 contractors to monitor online activity around the clock. According to federal contracting records reviewed by WIRED, ICE is seeking private vendors to run a multiyear surveillance program out of two targeting centers in Vermont and Southern California.
The program, which aims to scour Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms for potential intelligence on individuals, has sparked criticism from civil liberties groups. "This is a clear example of the government's increasing reliance on private contractors to do its dirty work," said Jennifer Lynch, a senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). "We're concerned that this program will lead to more invasive surveillance and potentially target innocent people."
The ICE program envisions stationing nearly 30 private analysts at its facilities in Vermont and Southern California. Their job: to sift through online posts, photos, and messages to identify potential targets for deportation raids and arrests. The contractors will be tasked with monitoring social media activity around the clock, seven days a week.
According to the contracting records, ICE is seeking vendors that can provide "social media analytics" services, including data collection, analysis, and reporting. The agency plans to use this intelligence to inform its enforcement activities, which have been criticized for targeting vulnerable communities.
The expansion of social media surveillance by ICE comes as the agency faces mounting criticism over its handling of immigration cases. In recent months, ICE has faced allegations of mistreating detainees, including denying them access to medical care and subjecting them to inhumane conditions.
ICE's plans to expand its social media surveillance capabilities have also raised concerns about the potential for bias and inaccuracies in the data collected. "Social media platforms are not always accurate or reliable sources of information," said Lynch. "We're worried that this program will lead to more false positives and wrongful arrests."
The contracting records reviewed by WIRED do not specify when the surveillance program is expected to begin or how much it will cost. However, they do indicate that ICE plans to award a multiyear contract to a private vendor in the coming months.
As the debate over social media surveillance continues, experts are warning of the potential risks and consequences of such programs. "We need to be careful about giving government agencies too much power to monitor our online activity," said Lynch. "This is a slippery slope that can lead to more invasive surveillance and erosion of civil liberties."
Background
ICE's plans to expand its social media surveillance capabilities have been met with criticism from civil liberties groups, who argue that the program will lead to more invasive surveillance and potentially target innocent people.
Relevant Quotes
"This is a clear example of the government's increasing reliance on private contractors to do its dirty work," said Jennifer Lynch, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
"Social media platforms are not always accurate or reliable sources of information," said Lynch. "We're worried that this program will lead to more false positives and wrongful arrests."
Current Status
ICE plans to award a multiyear contract to a private vendor in the coming months, but the exact timeline for the surveillance program is unclear.
Next Steps
As the debate over social media surveillance continues, experts are warning of the potential risks and consequences of such programs. The EFF has called on Congress to pass legislation that would limit government agencies' ability to collect online data without a warrant.
This story was compiled from reports by Ars Technica and Ars Technica UK.
