Surveillance and Cybersecurity Scrutiny: The Implications of ICE's $2 Million Contract with Paragon Solutions

The Intersection of Surveillance and Cybersecurity

A $2 million contract that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement signed with Israeli commercial spyware vendor Paragon Solutions has been paused and placed under compliance review, as WIRED has learned.

White House Review of the Contract

The scrutiny of this contract marks the first test of the Biden administration’s executive order restricting the government’s use of spyware. DHS did not confirm whether the contract includes the deployment of Paragon’s flagship product, Graphite, known for its powerful data extraction from cloud backups.

• The contract was signed on September 27 and first reported on October 1.
• DHS issued a stop work order to review compliance with Executive Order 14093.
• This executive order aims to restrict the use of commercial spyware technology while promoting responsible use.

Concerns from Civil Liberties Groups

ICE's contract has raised alarms among civil liberties groups, with Human Rights Watch warning that giving ICE access to spyware risks exacerbating problematic practices. The compliance review's seriousness will influence international trust in the executive order.

As scrutiny continues, experts emphasize the need for oversight, transparency, and accountability in any U.S. agency's attempts to acquire these tools. The global push to regulate commercial spyware is picking up momentum, with recent international agreements acknowledging the risks posed by these technologies to democratic values.