ICE Spyware Contract with Paragon Solutions Ended in January
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A contract between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and spyware maker Paragon Solutions was closed out in January. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states ICE has no current contract or relationship with Paragon or its acquirer. The contract had been reactivated last year but was previously paused by the Biden administration for a security review.
Facts First
- ICE's contract with spyware firm Paragon Solutions was closed out on Jan. 20, according to a federal procurement website.
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states ICE has no current contract or relationship with Paragon Solutions, Inc. or the company that acquired it.
- The Biden administration paused the 2024 contract to review compliance with an executive order barring risky commercial spyware.
- The contract was reactivated under the Trump administration last August before being closed this year.
- Paragon's Graphite spyware has been used to target journalists and activists in various countries, according to researchers and prosecutors.
What Happened
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reactivated a previously paused contract with spyware maker Paragon Solutions last year. The Biden administration had placed the 2024 contract on hold to determine if it complied with a 2023 executive order barring federal agencies from purchasing commercial spyware that poses significant security risks. A notice on a federal procurement website states the Paragon Solutions contract was closed out on Jan. 20. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated to NPR that ICE has no current contract or relationship with Paragon Solutions, Inc. or the company that acquired them.
Why this Matters to You
This story involves the tools and methods used by federal law enforcement, which could impact the privacy and security standards governing surveillance. The use of powerful commercial spyware, like Paragon's Graphite tool which can access encrypted messages without a target's interaction, raises significant questions about oversight and potential for misuse. You may be affected by how these tools are regulated and against whom they are authorized, as past use of Graphite has targeted journalists and activists abroad.
What's Next
DHS declined to clarify if ICE still has access to Paragon-developed tools through a third party and would not answer whether ICE is using a different spyware vendor. In an April 1 letter, departing acting ICE Director Todd Lyons acknowledged he approved the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) team to use a commercial spyware tool to disrupt foreign terrorist organizations and fentanyl traffickers, certifying it complied with the 2023 executive order. The future of ICE's spyware capabilities may depend on ongoing internal reviews and the application of the executive order's safeguards.