By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are using facial recognition software to determine immigration status, even on U.S. citizens, without consent. This technology, such as the app Mobile Fortify, scans faces in public, comparing them against databases and potentially overriding official documentation. Internal documents show that the data collected, including images of U.S. citizens, is stored for years. Furthermore, officials have been known to trust the app’s results over a person’s government documents.
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ICE’s ‘Frightening’ Facial Recognition App is Scanning US Citizens Without Their Consent
It’s unsettling, isn’t it? The news about ICE and its facial recognition app, the one quietly sweeping up the faces of US citizens without so much as a by-your-leave, is a stark reminder of where “public safety” can lead. It’s a chilling thought: our privacy, slowly eroded in the name of security, while those doing the scanning hide their own faces. It makes you wonder: what makeup or clever contouring tricks might offer a temporary shield? Or, perhaps, embracing the anonymity of a mask and glasses is the new normal.
The implications are huge. The app, which is supposed to help identify people, is apparently being used to collect data on a massive scale. To add insult to injury, it appears that the app’s results are prioritized over official documentation, like birth certificates, to determine a person’s status. Imagine being a US citizen, your papers in order, yet still being detained because an algorithm decided otherwise. The probability of error is undoubtedly significant, and the potential for wrongful targeting is alarming.
This reliance on technology is especially concerning when considering the companies involved. Palantir, for example, a company whose name evokes all-seeing capabilities, is deeply involved in government contracts. It’s almost too predictable, isn’t it? This app just seems like the digital version of profiling. You have to wonder, is this just the beginning?
And what about the legalities? This is where it gets really murky. The question of legality seems almost secondary to the execution. Laws like those in Illinois, designed to protect privacy, could be sidestepped by federal agencies, leaving citizens vulnerable. The whole situation feels like a slow creep toward a surveillance state, where everyone is a potential target. This also highlights the irony of those in authority wearing masks while they scan ours.
The situation in airports is even more alarming. If you’ve been through one lately, you’ve likely had your picture taken without even realizing it. The casual acceptance of this technology is a symptom of a larger problem: our politicians’ apparent disinterest in curtailing this unchecked spying. It’s a bipartisan failure, really. Where are the calls to dismantle these systems, or at least regulate them? It’s as though there is no interest from either side of the aisle. The silence is deafening.
Beyond facial recognition, there’s a growing concern about other technological intrusions. Reports of cars being remotely accessed, potentially to disable windows or locks, highlight the potential for the government to access any number of technologies remotely. The thought of this power is chilling, and the lack of oversight is even more so.
And yes, I understand that in public, we are subject to being photographed. It is a reasonable statement. However, the use of those photos in the hands of an app like this, without consent, without any suspicion of wrongdoing is what’s concerning. Even more troubling is the fact that this app’s results have been prioritized over official identification. This is a very real problem.
It’s easy to dismiss these concerns as paranoia. After all, increased surveillance might seem to correlate with decreased crime rates. But at what cost? At what point do we sacrifice our freedoms for the illusion of safety?