Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expanding its online surveillance capabilities using an AI-powered platform called Zignal Labs, as indicated by federal records. The agency has contracted Zignal Labs for $5.7 million to utilize its real-time intelligence platform, which analyzes large quantities of publicly available data, such as social media posts. Zignal Labs claims it can process over 8 billion posts daily in multiple languages, generating “curated detection feeds” that ICE might use to identify individuals for deportation.
The platform can capture geolocated images and videos, potentially allowing ICE to trace the locations of individuals based on social media content. For instance, it has previously analyzed videos from platforms like Telegram to pinpoint activities in locations such as Gaza, demonstrating its capability to inform operational decisions based on social media data.
ICE’s contract with Zignal Labs was acquired through Carahsoft, a company that provides IT solutions to government entities. Zignal Labs has also collaborated with agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the US Secret Service. The effectiveness and implications of this surveillance technology have prompted discussions regarding privacy and civil liberties.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced detailing ICE’s plans to hire around 30 employees to monitor content across various social media platforms, searching for individuals deemed a threat to national security or public safety. Internal documents suggest that contractor teams may need to investigate potential associations of targets, including their family or social connections.
Civil liberties advocates note that the automated nature of such monitoring tools introduces significant concerns around free speech, suggesting that the scale of surveillance could lead to a chilling effect on public discourse. In this context, ICE’s enhanced monitoring capabilities may raise questions regarding the balance between security and civil rights in the use of technology for law enforcement purposes.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/policy/806425/ice-social-media-surveillance-free-speech-assault