Nvidia, the company that recently became the world's first $5 trillion entity, has been quietly powering a key component of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigations. According to federal records reviewed by The Intercept, ICE has renewed access to Nvidia software tools for use by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an enforcement division tasked with transnational crime.
The deal, worth $19,000, provided Nvidia software licenses that will be used to enhance data analysis and improve investigative capabilities through high-performance computing solutions. This partnership marks a significant expansion of HSI's investment in large language models (LLMs) - a technology that can be used to surveil U.S. citizens, migrants, and visitors.
Critics warn that such systems may be prone to flaws, including reproducing biases, which could lead to flawed intelligence and potential misidentification of individuals. Amos Toh, senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, noted that these problems make it more likely that people will be targeted based on flawed intelligence.
HSI's mission has shifted significantly under President Donald Trump's second administration. The division has long been focused on civil immigration enforcement, but its focus is now increasingly on criminal investigations, with HSI agents being reassigned to carry out immigration arrests instead of focusing on transnational crime.
The partnership between ICE and Nvidia comes as the agency ramps up its presence in cities across the US, leading to aggressive protests against immigrant enforcement. Critics argue that this deal represents a concerning trend towards an authoritarian takeover of the government.
Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang has been praised by Trump, and the company's ties to the administration have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. While Nvidia claims it adheres to international human rights frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, critics argue that such partnerships may undermine the integrity of law enforcement agencies like ICE.
The Intercept has reported on other instances of HSI using machine learning algorithms and large language models to analyze data and identify potential targets. The company's software could potentially be used for ad hoc queries over voice interfaces or automatically scanning footage from agents.
As concerns about surveillance and civil liberties grow, many are calling for greater transparency and accountability around such partnerships between law enforcement agencies and private companies like Nvidia.
The deal, worth $19,000, provided Nvidia software licenses that will be used to enhance data analysis and improve investigative capabilities through high-performance computing solutions. This partnership marks a significant expansion of HSI's investment in large language models (LLMs) - a technology that can be used to surveil U.S. citizens, migrants, and visitors.
Critics warn that such systems may be prone to flaws, including reproducing biases, which could lead to flawed intelligence and potential misidentification of individuals. Amos Toh, senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, noted that these problems make it more likely that people will be targeted based on flawed intelligence.
HSI's mission has shifted significantly under President Donald Trump's second administration. The division has long been focused on civil immigration enforcement, but its focus is now increasingly on criminal investigations, with HSI agents being reassigned to carry out immigration arrests instead of focusing on transnational crime.
The partnership between ICE and Nvidia comes as the agency ramps up its presence in cities across the US, leading to aggressive protests against immigrant enforcement. Critics argue that this deal represents a concerning trend towards an authoritarian takeover of the government.
Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang has been praised by Trump, and the company's ties to the administration have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. While Nvidia claims it adheres to international human rights frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, critics argue that such partnerships may undermine the integrity of law enforcement agencies like ICE.
The Intercept has reported on other instances of HSI using machine learning algorithms and large language models to analyze data and identify potential targets. The company's software could potentially be used for ad hoc queries over voice interfaces or automatically scanning footage from agents.
As concerns about surveillance and civil liberties grow, many are calling for greater transparency and accountability around such partnerships between law enforcement agencies and private companies like Nvidia.
Nvidia powering ICE investigations is super shady 
. Like what's next? They're already making us paranoid with facial recognition and now they want to track down immigrants too... Interesting 
... I mean, think about it - a $5 trillion company is helping the US government with their investigations, and that's just gonna make things more predictable 
. If we start to rely on these AI tools, are we gonna end up with more innocent people being targeted because of some flawed algorithm? 
It's like, we're playing with fire here 
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. And let's not forget that this is a company that's being praised by the Trump admin 
... is there a conflict of interest here?
. But at the end of the day, it's all about accountability 
. We need to make sure these partnerships are transparent and that we're not compromising civil liberties in the process 
. Can't we just slow down and think this through for once? 
you know what really gets my nostalgic vibes going - the good ol' days of the Wild West, where the west was wild and free... just kidding, that's not exactly the vibe I'm getting from this article 
. seriously though, this news about ICE using Nvidia software for data analysis is super concerning 
. I mean, think about it, a $5 trillion company like Nvidia powering some of the most powerful investigative tools in the country? it's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but unfortunately, it's our reality right now 
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. we need transparency, accountability, and a whole lot of critical thinking when it comes to these kinds of partnerships between law enforcement agencies and private companies. 
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. We need to have open conversations about how law enforcement agencies use technology and ensure that our rights are protected 
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just thinkin what kinda ppl we r dealin w/ when big corps get involved w/ gov agencies... ICE & Nvidia? sounds like a recipe 4 disaster 
gotta keep an eye on these deals, cant let corporate interests overrule public safety & human rights 
. I mean, I get it, data analysis and all that jazz is super important for keeping us safe, but at what cost? 
$19k just for software licenses? That's wild 
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. We need to make sure that these tech giants are being transparent about what they're doing with our data, and that we have a say in how our society is governed 
. This partnership between ICE and Nvidia is just the tip of the iceberg 
...we gotta be vigilant 
. And what's with all the fuss over $19,000 for software licenses? That's like, peanuts compared to the trillions they're raking in 
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this is getting outta control... ICE's reliance on Nvidia software tools raises serious questions about how we're protecting our own citizens 
. It's like, what's the point of havin' advanced tech if we're just gonna use it to target the wrong people? 
. Transparency and accountability are key here, folks 
Or do we wanna keep pushin' for greater transparency and accountability so we can trust our law enforcement agencies with the right tech 
. I'm all for innovation and progress, but we need to make sure our law enforcement agencies are using tech that serves justice, not just those in power 
. Transparency and accountability are key here – time to hold these companies accountable! 
I'm super excited!
. i mean, i get it, they gotta do what they gotta do, but can't we have some transparency about how this stuff is being used? like, how many people are bein' targeted by these flawed systems? 
. we need to be more careful about who we're givin' these kinds of contracts to and how we're monitorin' their actions