The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has awarded a $29.8 million contract to Palantir to develop ImmigrationOS, a software program designed to track undocumented and overstayed immigrants to facilitate deportations. This has drawn heavy criticism from organizations like Amnesty International and legal experts who view it as a human rights violation.
Critics, including Ricard MartĂnez from the University of Valencia, and Likhita Banerji from Amnesty Tech, label the program as "aberrant," "unethical," and a significant breach of human rights. They argue that the system's capabilities—including tracking biometric and geolocation data—lead to excessive control and the deprivation of fundamental rights for immigrants.
Palantir, while claiming commitment to privacy and civil liberties in its official policy, has not responded to requests for comment on this specific contract. Critics argue that the company bears significant responsibility for its role in developing and deploying technologies that potentially exacerbate human rights violations.
The article contrasts the situation in the US with Europe, where similar surveillance initiatives face stricter legal scrutiny and judicial oversight, often requiring strong legal bases and independent authority control. Such a system, according to experts, would likely fail to meet EU fundamental rights impact assessments.
The article concludes by highlighting the broader implications of this program, including concerns about the ethical responsibilities of tech companies in enabling such potentially harmful surveillance technologies. The debate centers on balancing national security needs with fundamental human rights protections.