ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking to expand its social media surveillance capabilities. According to documents, ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to monitor various social media platforms, including X, Facebook, and TikTok, with the aim of identifying individuals for potential deportation. The proposed initiative would establish a 24/7 social media surveillance team, allowing ICE to continuously track and analyze online activity. This move raises concerns about privacy rights and the potential for overreach in immigration enforcement. The scope of the surveillance, which would cover a wide range of social media platforms, has drawn criticism from civil liberties advocates who argue that such broad monitoring could infringe on individuals' freedom of expression and association. The article highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the balance between national security, immigration enforcement, and the protection of civil liberties in the digital age.