ICE has been investing heavily in facial recognition technology, specifically Clearview AI, to aid in investigations. According to procurement records, the agency recently spent nearly $4 million on the tech, with a total contract value of over $9 million. The records reveal that ICE is using facial recognition to identify individuals suspected of assaulting law enforcement officers, as well as to support investigations into child sexual exploitation cases.
The use of facial recognition technology by ICE has raised concerns, particularly given the agency's history of misrepresenting incidents involving assaults on officers. In some cases, charges have been dropped or lowered after it emerged that authorities had misrepresented what happened or had brutally assaulted protesters themselves.
The investment in Clearview AI highlights the growing reliance on facial recognition technology in law enforcement, despite ongoing debates about its accuracy, bias, and potential for misuse. As the use of this technology continues to expand, it's essential to consider the implications for individual privacy and civil liberties.
