{
  "id": 17246637,
  "title": "ICE wants its mask back, and hired a company to ask",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/ice-wants-its-mask-back-and-hired-a-company-to-ask",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-30T15:26:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hacker News",
    "slug": "hacker-news",
    "url": "https://blog.flokinet.is/2026/10/29/ice-wants-its-mask-back-and-hired-a-company-to-ask/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Internet Crime Enforcement (ICE) agency requested the removal of a website called icepi.cx, which publishes work identities of government employees. ICE hired a company called ZeroFox to handle the request on their behalf. The website functions as a reference tool for accountability reporting by journalists and citizens, and its removal would hinder the public's ability to understand who is carrying out enforcement programmes. ICE's request raises concerns about the potential misuse of such a system, as the agency's identity remains unknown and the decision-making process is unclear. ZeroFox, a company that has previously classified peaceful activists as \"threat actors,\" has been hired by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a $15 million contract. The company's business model involves selling monitoring services, filing takedown notices, and profiting from the removal of content. ICE's decision to request the removal of icepi.cx does not guarantee that the site was actually removed, as a registrar reached a different conclusion and the site became accessible again. Legislation like the Digital Services Act (DSA) places obligations on hosting providers while leaving the responsibility of verifying claims to the parties filing the notices. This case highlights the need for transparency and accountability in the takedown process, as well as the potential for abuse by governmental organizations.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "ICE agency requested removal of icepi.cx website",
    "ZeroFox hired by ICE to handle takedown request",
    "Site's removal unclear due to registrar's decision"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}