The United States Department of Homeland Security has given approval for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to use spyware developed by Israeli company Paragon Solutions, following the lifting of a pause that had been in place since late 2024.
The contract, originally valued at 2 million dollars, had been frozen for review to ensure compliance with an executive order restricting the use of foreign made surveillance tools. Public filings now confirm that the review has been completed, allowing ICE to deploy the spyware known as Graphite.
Graphite is described as one of the most advanced cyber tools currently available. It can infiltrate almost any smartphone, break into encrypted apps such as WhatsApp and Signal, monitor calls, track real time locations, and even convert a device into a hidden listening tool.
The Biden administration had previously attempted to curb the spread of spyware, issuing an order banning federal use of technologies considered security risks and blacklisting companies such as NSO Group. Despite this, Paragon, now under ownership of a US firm, has been able to continue its deal with ICE.
Officials argue that spyware is essential for addressing terrorism and organised crime. Civil rights groups, however, have raised serious concerns about ICE controlling such powerful tools, warning that privacy rights and due process could be undermined.
Paragon has stated that it operates differently from NSO, claiming it sells only to democratic governments and enforces strict controls against abuse. Yet reports show spyware of this kind has been misused before, with nearly 90 journalists, activists, and dissidents across multiple countries targeted in past scandals.
Experts caution that even with pledges of responsible use, spyware carries risks. “These tools were designed for dictatorships, not democracies built on liberty and rights,” said John Scott Railton of a research institute. He warned that normalising the use of such technologies could lead to widespread abuse.
Privacy advocates have also criticised the secrecy surrounding the deal. Nadine Farid Johnson of a rights institute described the contract as a “profound threat to free speech and privacy,” noting that spyware has already been used to target journalists and human rights defenders globally. She urged Congress to create clear restrictions on when and how these tools may be deployed, stressing that without oversight the United States risks adopting practices once linked to authoritarian regimes.
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