{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreiakh2i6ioaden7k476kowhf5gkkzwobfnczo3qzg23ztz6ufbf574",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:opaexgne3jdkt4bjsftn443k/app.bsky.feed.post/3me7c7k5fgxd2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreiazhrrsn7ia22fpluwa7t7c5t52taygh2dvkja3phx5pjpzu2zmla"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/png",
    "size": 2909552
  },
  "description": "DHS's inspector general is probing ICE's biometric and surveillance programs.",
  "path": "/inspector-general-investigating-whether-ices-surveillance-tech-breaks-the-law/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-06T16:11:27.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.404media.co",
  "tags": [
    "_Last week, we reported_",
    "Thursday",
    "_DHS’s contracts with Palantir_",
    "_company Clearview AI_",
    "_Flock’s license plate scanning technology_",
    "_company called Penlink_",
    "_company called Paragon_",
    "_face-scanning mobile app_"
  ],
  "textContent": "The Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General is investigating potential privacy abuses associated with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s surveillance and biometric data programs, according to a letter sent to two senators.\n\n_Last week, we reported_ that Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine demanded that DHS inspector general Joseph Cuffari investigate immigration-related surveillance programs across DHS, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE. Thursday, Cuffari said his office had launched an audit called “DHS’ Security of Biometric Data and Personally Identifiable Information.”\n\n“The objective of the audit is to determine how DHS and its components collect or obtain PII and biometric data related to immigration enforcement efforts and the extent to which that data is managed, shared, and secured in accordance with law, regulation, and Departmental policy,” Cuffari’s letter reads. He adds that one of the purposes of the investigation will be to “determine whether they have led to violations of federal law and other regulations that maintain privacy and defend against unlawful searches.”\n\nKaine and Warner’s initial letter specifically focused on many of the technologies and programs 404 Media has been reporting on, including _DHS’s contracts with Palantir_, facial recognition _company Clearview AI_, its side-door access to _Flock’s license plate scanning technology_, its social media monitoring through a _company called Penlink_, its phone hacking contract through a _company called Paragon_, its _face-scanning mobile app_, as well as its use of various government biometric databases in immigration enforcement.\n\n“DHS’ reported disregard for adhering to the law and its proven ambivalence toward observing and upholding constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms of Americans and noncitizens, including freedom of speech and equal protection under the law, leaves us with little confidence that these new and powerful tools are being used responsibly,” the senators wrote. “Coupled with DHS’ propensity to detain people regardless of their circumstances, it is reasonable to question whether DHS can be trusted with powerful surveillance tools and if in doing so, DHS is subjecting Americans to surveillance under the pretext of immigration enforcement.”",
  "title": "Inspector General Investigating Whether ICE's Surveillance Tech Breaks the Law",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-06T16:11:27.000Z"
}