U.S. Customs and Border Protection has awarded a fresh contract to Clearview AI, a company notorious for pulling 60 billion images off social media and racking up privacy violations around the world.
This new contract enables border officers to identify travelers simply by taking their picture. The agreement is slated to go live in September of 2026.
This deal builds on a previous $3.75 million contract ICE secured with the same vendor. That earlier arrangement was marketed as a tool to spot “ICE protestors”—anyone who publicly opposes the agency, interacts with its personnel, or even assaults an officer.
The implication is clear: opposing surveillance makes you a target.
With the new contract in place, the scope widens dramatically. Whether you’re crossing a border checkpoint or simply encountering an ICE agent in a public space, your face can be matched to publicly available photos on social media platforms. In practice, a single selfie could be enough for the agency to flag you as a person of interest.
What you can do
Treat the photos you take as sacred. Avoid using phones that automatically upload your photos to the cloud—instead use de-googled phones like Above Phone. And consider using privacy-friendly platforms instead of big tech social media.
While no single step guarantees safety, a more disciplined digital footprint reduces the data pool that Clearview can exploit.
This is a segment from #TBOT Show Episode 21. Watch the full episode here:
✊ Break the limits of big tech with Above Phone. You’ll unlock features and freedom you didn’t even know existed.
Works with any cell service (and even over WiFi with an internet phone)
Download the apps you love (private app stores)
Have complete control over your app permissions
Save $50 today with coupon code TBOT50!
