ICE Acquires Mass Phone Location Tracker, Reverses Stance on Data Harvesting

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly secured access to a powerful surveillance tool that actively tracks the daily movements of hundreds of millions of mobile phones. This system is continuously updated with billions of pieces of location data, marking a significant shift in the agency’s approach to digital monitoring.

According to internal documents reviewed by 404 Media, ICE explicitly chose this particular product over competitor offerings due to its comprehensive “all-in-one” capabilities. The platform not only provides vast quantities of phone location data but also integrates information gleaned from social media, offering a multifaceted view of individuals’ digital activities.

Crucially, these documents reveal that ICE is resuming the use of location data remotely harvested from peoples’ smartphones. This move directly contradicts the agency’s earlier decision to halt such practices, sparking renewed concerns about government surveillance and individual privacy.

The broader landscape of digital surveillance sees contractors worldwide compiling massive datasets on the movements of phones—and by extension, the people carrying them. These extensive datasets are then sold to various government agencies. Historically, U.S. agencies have frequently deployed these powerful tools without obtaining traditional warrants or court orders.

Senator Ron Wyden voiced strong opposition to the development, stating to 404 Media, “The Biden Administration shut down DHS’s location data purchases after an inspector general found that DHS had broken the law. Every American should be concerned that Trump’s hand-picked security force is once again buying and using location data without a warrant.”

The re-engagement with such widespread location tracking by ICE brings critical questions about civil liberties, data privacy, and the unchecked expansion of government surveillance back to the forefront of public debate.