ICE Asks Companies About ‘Ad Tech and Big Data’ Tools It Could Use in Investigations

image via WIRED

January 24, 2026, 10:14 PM

• •ICE is seeking information on Big Data and Ad Tech for investigative activities.
• •The agency is interested in tools comparable to those used by large investigative data providers.
• •The request focuses on understanding the availability of Ad Tech and location data services for federal investigations, considering regulations and privacy.
• •ICE has previously used big data tools, including those from Palantir and location data from Webloc and Venntel.
• •The FTC has taken action against data brokers like Venntel for selling sensitive consumer location data without proper consent.
• •The request for information is happening amidst increasing federal responses to protests against immigration enforcement.

ICE is requesting information from companies about commercial Big Data and Ad Tech products to support its investigations. The agency is looking for tools to manage and analyze large volumes of data from various sources, including location data and digital advertising information. This request marks the first time ICE has explicitly mentioned 'ad tech' in such a filing, highlighting the increasing use of commercial tools for law enforcement. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over privacy and the use of such data for surveillance purposes, as well as ongoing federal responses to protests.

Read original article