ICE Is Paying a Controversial AI Firm to Hide the Identities of Agents
In a leaked memo, an ICE official tells employees the new AI tech will protect them from doxing. Some worry it could be used to root out whistleblowers. The post ICE Is Paying a Controversial AI Firm to Hide the Identities of Agents appeared first on The Intercept .
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is implementing a new initiative using artificial intelligence (AI) to conceal the identities of its personnel from the public, as revealed by an internal email obtained by The Intercept. The email, signed by Acting ICE Director David Venturella, identifies ZeroFox, an AI-driven firm, as the technology provider for this initiative.
ZeroFox, which develops software to prevent data leaks, has been contracted by ICE for $15 million to support operations and investigations. The contract, disclosed through public procurement records, will enable ZeroFox to provide services to ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division.
ZeroFox's website states that its software continuously identifies, maps, and monitors digital presence, ensuring that users' digital information remains secure. However, the specifics of how this new program will operate remain unclear, and ICE has not responded to inquiries about the matter. An anonymous ICE official expressed concerns that ZeroFox's technology could be misused to identify and expose whistleblowers and critics of the Trump administration, likening it to a "surveillance" tool.
Richard Forno, an associate director at the University of Maryland's cybersecurity institute, agreed, stating that such AI technologies can be misused to target whistleblowers, citing past examples where ZeroFox classified peaceful protesters as threats.
The White House has a history of labeling critics as "terrorists" or "extremists" on broad terms. In 2015, ZeroFox provided free services to Baltimore officials, classifying peaceful Black Lives Matter protest organizers as potential physical threats based on their social media influence. The FBI also struggled to identify online extremist activity using ZeroFox technology following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
ZeroFox's owner, Haveli Investments, acquired the company for approximately $350 million in 2024. The ICE initiative aims to protect employees and the agency's reputation from public scrutiny, but critics argue that it undermines democratic values and raises concerns about the potential misuse of the technology.
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