Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is eyeing a new way to target immigrants, which is raising red flags, according to a new report.
ICE is requesting more information on how to acquire data from digital advertisers, which could include information such as social media use, purchases, and web browsing, according to reporting by Politico.
“It’s very shocking to see it in black and white that the government is trying to use the digital advertising ecosystem to find and target immigrants,” Brian O’Kelley, the CEO of an AI -advertising firm, told Politico. “It makes me very, very nervous about how people’s day-to-day use of the internet or their interactions with social media turn into being targeted. That’s terrifying.”
ICE requested information in January on how “commercial Big Data and Ad Tech providers can directly support investigations,” which is the first time ICE has made that kind of public request, according to Politico.
“Under President Trump, ICE is using all lawful tools to remove dangerous criminal illegal aliens from the U.S.,” a spokesperson for the agency told Politico.
O’Kelley said he’s worried it will be too difficult to stop ICE and the Trump administration from revving up their surveillance.
“When it’s ICE, how do you go after it?” he told Politico. “Also, people are scared of Trump, and they’re scared of retribution.”
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