Reps. Garamendi, Goldman, Velazquez, & Sen. Wyden Demand Answers on ICE Use of Palantir-developed Technologies to Fuel Mass Surveillance

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) joined U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10), Nydia Velázquez (NY-12) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in demanding answers from ICE and DHS about their ongoing use of Palantir-developed technologies to collect Americans' personal data to fuel a mass surveillance ecosystem. 

Public reporting regarding DHS' data analytics tools and software has raised serious concerns about Palantir-developed technologies being used to compile, aggregate, and analyze large volumes of personal data and information. Reporting further indicates that DHS has deployed a range of surveillance technologies that are provided by multiple private contractors. This includes facial recognition systems developed by Clearview AI, social media monitoring and analysis tools produced by PenLink, stingray technology from suppliers such as L3Harris, and cellphone surveillance technologies built by Paragon Solutions. These tools contribute to a mass surveillance ecosystem that appears to operate in conjunction with Palantir-developed platforms and ultimately support enforcement operations conducted by DHS, some of which target U.S. citizens.

"The combination of facial recognition tools, social media surveillance, and large-scale data aggregation systems and applications raise serious concerns about the operational use of personally identifiable information that belongs to individuals who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. Specifically, these technologies are seemingly being weaponized against citizens, journalists, and individuals engaged in constitutionally protected activities, which include lawful assembly and protest," wrote the lawmakers. 

The lawmakers are demanding that DHS provide information about: 

• All databases, data analytics programs, and applications currently being utilized by the Department of Homeland Security

• All currently active and prior contracts between DHS or any DHS component and Palantir technologies

• Government and/or commercial datasets and information implemented into Palantir-developed systems or data applications utilized by DHS for the purpose of immigration enforcement

• Safeguards in place to limit the retention of data and to address data privacy concerns

• Any data that DHS has collected about individuals peacefully observing, documenting or protesting immigration enforcement operations

• DHS' use of facial recognition tools during immigration enforcement operations

• All private contractors that provide data surveillance or analytics technologies to DHS