Trump goes on spyware purchasing blitz to help ICE find people who they claim want to ‘overthrow of the United States Government’
Trump goes on spyware purchasing blitz to help ICE find people who they claim want to ‘overthrow of the United States Government’
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Alarm bells are ringing for lawmakers and civil rights groups, who fear the technology could be used to surveil those who protest the government. (Getty Images)
The Trump administration has launched an extensive expansion of surveillance technology to strengthen Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) mission of identifying undocumented migrants and individuals accused of seeking to “overthrow the United States Government.”
ICE is investing tens of millions of dollars in new spyware contracts, including eye-scanning applications, phone-tracking software capable of operating without court warrants, and systems that allow remote access to devices. The agency is also hiring additional personnel to expand its social media monitoring network.
Although ICE has used advanced surveillance tools for over two decades, its recent increase in spyware spending has raised concern among lawmakers and civil rights organizations. The move follows President Trump’s designation of the Antifa movement as a “domestic terrorist” organization, a step that critics fear could enable the government to monitor political dissent.
ICE is spending tens of millions of dollars on new spyware contracts, including eye-scanning and facial recognition apps, and more staff for a social media monitoring network. (AFP via Getty Images)
President Trump has described Antifa as “a militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law.”
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, where ICE has frequently clashed with protesters in Portland, voiced alarm over the latest round of technology contracts.
“I’m extremely concerned about how ICE will use spyware, facial recognition and other technology to further trample on the rights of Americans and anyone who Donald Trump labels as an enemy,” Wyden told The Washington Post.
Administration officials have said that strengthening ICE’s surveillance capabilities aligns with broader efforts to counter domestic threats and criminal networks.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson emphasized that the administration is pursuing a “whole-of-government approach to end any illegal activities.”
“Left-wing organizations have fueled violent riots, organized attacks against law enforcement officers, coordinated illegal doxing campaigns, arranged drop points for weapons and riot materials, and more,” Jackson said Thursday. “The Trump Administration will get to the bottom of this vast network inciting violence in American communities.”
Congress recently approved more than $170 billion in funding for ICE as part of the president’s spending bill passed in July. By September, the agency had signed contracts worth approximately $1.4 billion, according to data from USASpending.gov.
Among the new agreements is a $4.6 million deal with Massachusetts-based B12 Technologies to supply an eye-scanning mobile application that allows agents to confirm identities in the field. The app matches scans against millions of records and can capture images from up to 15 inches away—even through glasses.
ICE also awarded a $3.75 million contract to Clearview AI for facial recognition software, despite concerns about accuracy and past instances of wrongful arrests linked to similar systems.
Meanwhile, ICE is expanding its social media intelligence units in Vermont and California. Analysts will use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X to generate leads on individuals deemed potential threats to national security or public safety. The surveillance will also extend to relatives, friends, and coworkers of identified targets.
Controversy has also surrounded the administration’s decision to reinstate a $2 million contract with Paragon Solutions, an Israeli spyware company accused of enabling the monitoring of journalists and activists abroad. The agreement had been paused under a 2023 executive order from the Biden administration restricting certain commercial spyware, before being resumed under current review.
Additionally, ICE is seeking to acquire access to a powerful suite of surveillance tools capable of analyzing location data from hundreds of millions of mobile phones. Documents obtained by the tech outlet 404 Media reveal plans to purchase “all-in-one” systems from a company called PenLink, which would allow agents to “compile, process, and validate billions of daily location signals.” The proposed technology also includes features for “face detection,” “advanced face search,” and monitoring “dark web data feeds.”
A White House official, speaking anonymously, defended the administration’s surveillance programs.
“The President’s actions are focused on entities and individuals engaged in organized political violence and domestic terrorism,” the official said. “Any other characterization is inaccurate.”
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