Editorial illustration for CBP signs Clearview AI contract for tactical targeting amid DHS scrutiny
ICE Expands Facial Recognition with $9M Clearview Deal
CBP signs Clearview AI contract for tactical targeting amid DHS scrutiny
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has just inked a deal with Clearview AI to feed its officers a new “tactical targeting” tool that matches faces against a massive database. The contract, announced this week, signals a shift from the agency’s traditional focus on border crossings to a broader, data‑driven approach to identifying suspects.
While the technology promises faster matches, it also raises questions about how far federal agencies will reach with biometric surveillance. Critics point to recent deployments of facial‑recognition software in cities across the country, where the same systems have been used in raids that captured dozens of American residents. Lawmakers and civil‑rights groups have already begun probing the legal and ethical boundaries of such uses.
The Clearview contract lands as the Department of Homeland Security faces mounting scrutiny over how face recognition is used in federal enforcement operations far beyond the border, including large‑scale actions in US cities that have swept up US citizens. Civil liberties groups and lawmakers have
The Clearview contract lands as the Department of Homeland Security faces mounting scrutiny over how face recognition is used in federal enforcement operations far beyond the border, including large-scale actions in US cities that have swept up US citizens. Civil liberties groups and lawmakers have questioned whether face-search tools are being deployed as routine intelligence infrastructure, rather than limited investigative aids, and whether safeguards have kept pace with expansion. Last week, Senator Ed Markey introduced legislation that would bar ICE and CBP from using face recognition technology altogether, citing concerns that biometric surveillance is being embedded without clear limits, transparency, or public consent.
CBP did not immediately respond to questions about how Clearview would be integrated into its systems, what types of images agents are authorized to upload, and whether searches may include US citizens. Clearview's business model has drawn scrutiny because it relies on scraping photos from public websites at scale.
Will the $225,000 investment deliver measurable security benefits? CBP says the Clearview AI subscription will support tactical targeting by its INTEL and National Targeting Center units, part of a coordinated effort to disrupt, degrade, and dismantle perceived threats. Yet the contract arrives as DHS confronts growing scrutiny over facial‑recognition deployments far beyond border checkpoints, including operations in U.S.
cities that have captured ordinary citizens. Civil‑rights groups and several lawmakers have voiced concerns about privacy and due‑process safeguards, but the agency has not detailed oversight mechanisms. The brief, year‑long access hinges on a database scraped from billions of online images, a source that raises questions about consent and data accuracy.
Consequently, it remains unclear whether the tool will improve threat identification without compromising civil liberties. As the program unfolds, transparency about its deployment criteria and audit procedures will be essential to assess its true impact. The contract’s modest budget also prompts inquiry into the cost‑effectiveness of licensing such a controversial technology.
Transparency needed.
Further Reading
- ICE awards Clearview AI $9.2M facial recognition contract - Biometric Update
- ICE contracts with Clearview AI for facial-recognition technology - Immigration Policy Tracking Project
- ICE Awards $9.2 Million Clearview AI Contract for Facial Recognition Investigations - ID Tech Wire
- DHS AI Surveillance Arsenal Grows as Agency Defies Courts - Tech Policy Press
- Warner, Kaine Demand Investigation into DHS Use of Surveillance Technology - Senator Kaine's Office
Related Reading
Business & Startups OpenAI, a Series F San Francisco startup founded in 2015 by eight pioneers
Business & Startups Terminal-Bench 2.0 launches with Harbor, testing any container-installable agent
Business & Startups Zuckerberg Unveils Meta Compute to Build Global AI Infrastructure
![Mistral AI logo, a stylized "M" in blue, representing Europe's growing AI independence and revenue growth. [Business Insider]](https://cms.aidailypost.com/uploads/mistrals_revenue_jumps_20fold_europe_backs_ai_independence_1b44231fe6.webp)
From Archives Mistral's revenue jumps 20‑fold as Europe backs AI independence
From Archives ByteDance taps Samsung for custom AI chips and scarce memory supply
Common Questions Answered
What is the Mobile Fortify app used by DHS for facial recognition?
[idtechwire.com](https://idtechwire.com/dhs-facial-recognition-app-draws-from-1-2-billion-image-database/) reports that Mobile Fortify is a smartphone app used by ICE agents to capture facial images and fingerprints, instantly querying multiple federal biometric repositories. The app draws from a massive database of 1.2 billion face images and allows officers to collect biometric data while detaining suspected undocumented immigrants and protesters.
How long does DHS retain biometric data collected through the Mobile Fortify app?
According to the [idtechwire.com](https://idtechwire.com/dhs-facial-recognition-app-draws-from-1-2-billion-image-database/) article, DHS retains all biometric data collected through the Mobile Fortify app for 15 years. Illinois and Chicago have filed a lawsuit describing this as creating a 'de facto interior biometric registry untethered from warrants, consent, or individualized suspicion'.
What legislative efforts are being made to challenge ICE's surveillance expansion?
[biometricupdate.com](https://www.biometricupdate.com/202602/lawmakers-challenge-ice-surveillance-expansion-as-questions-mount-over-dhs-oversight) reports that U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree introduced the Stop ICE Intimidation Act to block funding for expanded ICE surveillance tools. The legislation would freeze ICE's contract with Clearview AI and require detailed disclosures about how the agency uses databases and biometric technologies, including who is targeted and how long data is retained.