United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently issued a request for information aimed at gathering intelligence on “commercial Big Data and Ad Tech” products that could assist its investigative activities. This move highlights the increasing reliance on commercial tools for governmental law enforcement and surveillance purposes.
The request, posted in the Federal Register, outlines ICE’s interest in tools that can help manage and analyze vast amounts of data from various sources. The agency seeks to understand the landscape of available Ad Tech services and location data that comply with regulatory frameworks while meeting the demands of federal investigations.
For the first time, the term "ad tech" has appeared in an ICE contract request, signaling a shift in how the agency is considering adapting commercial technologies originally designed for advertising to enhance its operational capabilities. ICE has emphasized that this request is strictly informational, stating its objective to leverage technology to support investigations while upholding civil liberties and privacy rights.
ICE has a history of utilizing big data, notably with its contracts with Palantir for investigative tools like the FALCON system, designed to store and analyze large volumes of investigation-related data. Additionally, the agency has previously engaged in obtaining commercial location data from firms like Webloc and Venntel, which collect consumer location information for various applications, including advertising.
The timing of this request is notable given the heightened scrutiny of ICE’s methods, particularly following a recent incident in Minneapolis where a federal agent shot a local resident during an enforcement operation. As protests against immigration enforcement intensify, ICE’s exploration of new data tools reflects the increasing complexities of modern law enforcement in an era of significant public oversight.
For more information about ICE and its past operations, you can refer to the following links:
