I am the top moderator of r/EyesOnICE, where we have over 71,000 members advocating for civil rights, and I myself have been advocating for social justice and civil rights now for over a decade. The most we remove from our community is infighting between supporters and critics of ICE. Our members are civil, respectful, and abide by Reddit’s Terms of Service, and if they do not, they are dealt with accordingly. We enforce a strict policy against doxing and calls to violence because that kind of behavior pulls focus away from the marginalized groups targeted by this administration.
Here is the truth no one thinks about: Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s budget is wildly out of control. Their financial resources are, for all intents and purposes, limitless. These funds are used to procure data on all of us across social media, from simple posts of support to the condemnation of the murdering of civilians.
The panopticon that ICE maintains is relentless and vast. It is used to investigate their misrepresentation of fabricated violence against ICE agents, but the speech used and documented is not violent. It is speech demanding accountability and transparency. The goal is to unmask critics like myself and force others into silence. They think if people are doxed, they will stop being vocal, but that is far from the truth. While I can only speak for myself, if that day ever comes, so be it, my voice will become even louder and more exhausting.
The reality of this surveillance is backed up by hard data. ICE has deployed a massive digital surveillance operation to monitor critics online, raising serious questions about free speech and government overreach.
A $258 Million Surveillance Economy
The agency has initiated a sweeping, round-the-clock digital operation to scour the public internet. The surveillance targets social media platforms ranging from Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and X to Reddit, LinkedIn, Discord, and Snapchat. According to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal, the government has paid millions to private contractors to surface online activity.
The agency has dramatically increased its spending on surveillance technology and external consultants:
Spending on these surveillance contracts reached $258 million during the president’s first full year back in office.
This represents a 57% increase compared to the prior year.
Since 2020, ICE has paid out nearly $50 million specifically for around-the-clock monitoring operations across at least six different contracts.
Contractors are tasked with creating daily reports and ad hoc emergency alerts on speech found across over 20 social media networks. If a potential threat actor is identified, ICE requests comprehensive dossiers that can include a person’s name, home address, date of birth, social security number, vehicle registration, and criminal history.
The Push for User Data and Platform Pushback
When ICE cannot easily identify an anonymous user, the agency issues subpoenas directly to technology companies.
The agency has targeted major platforms such as Meta, Reddit, and Google.
ICE subpoenas frequently demand the identities of individuals behind specific online posts, often asking the platform to conceal the request from the user.
Some platforms have resisted, as Reddit’s Chief Legal Officer stated that the company routinely objects to government requests that threaten First Amendment rights.
Reddit and Meta have also pushed back against nondisclosure requests, choosing to notify impacted users so they can secure legal representation.
Doxing, Free Speech, and Real-World Consequences
While ICE claims they only investigate credible threats against employees, citing an “8,000% increase in death threats”, the reality is much more complicated.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has embraced a broad definition of doxing, implying that even news outlets publishing the names of officers involved in controversial actions are engaging in harmful behavior. The blurred line between credible threats and protected speech has led to real-world consequences:
In one case, two women in Los Angeles were convicted of stalking an ICE agent after live-streaming him returning to his home.
An Oklahoma man was convicted after making online threats to kill federal agents on X.
In another instance, DHS agents tracked down a New York poll worker at her job regarding a months-old Instagram post that shared an article identifying an ICE agent. The agents attempted to pressure her into signing a letter admitting guilt, though she declined.
This surveillance program acts as an intimidation tactic, utilizing extensive investigations without frequently filing actual charges. With the agency slated to receive even more funding for surveillance tools in the coming years, the fight to maintain our right to speak out and demand transparency is more important than ever.
