ICE access to Israeli Graphite spyware sparks civil rights concerns
3 Min Read
The US government lifts a freeze on a controversial spyware deal, giving ICE access to Israeli-made tools capable of hacking phones and encrypted apps.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents escort a detained immigrant into an elevator after he exited an immigration courtroom, June 17, 2025, in New York. (AP)
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency will soon gain access to one of the world’s most sophisticated cyberweapons, after the Trump administration approved a contract with Paragon Solutions, a company founded in "Israel" that produces spyware capable of infiltrating virtually any mobile device, including encrypted messaging apps.
The Department of Homeland Security initially signed a $2 million contract with Paragon in late 2024 during the Biden administration, but the deal was paused for a compliance review to ensure it adhered to executive orders limiting the government’s use of commercial spyware. Public procurement documents now show the pause has been lifted, allowing ICE to proceed.
When deployed, Paragon’s spyware, called Graphite, can take control of a target’s phone, enabling the monitoring of messages, photographs, location data, and encrypted communications on apps such as WhatsApp and Signal. The software can also act as a listening device by accessing the device’s microphone.
'A profound threat to free speech and privacy'
Civil liberties advocates have raised alarms about the decision. Nadine Farid Johnson, policy director at Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute, said the contract exacerbates concerns over ICE’s expanding authority and budget, calling Graphite a “profound threat to free speech and privacy” that has been previously misused against journalists, activists, and political dissidents.
Paragon distinguishes itself from competitors such as NSO Group, which has faced sanctions for supplying spyware to authoritarian regimes.
Experts warn that even with safeguards, spyware designed for high-level surveillance carries inherent risks. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, said, “Invasive, secret hacking power is corrupting. That’s why there’s a growing pile of spyware scandals in democracies, including with Paragon’s Graphite.”
Graphite has previously been involved in controversies in Italy, where at least 90 individuals, including journalists and civil society members, were targeted, highlighting the potential for abuse.
Scott-Railton also noted that the use of foreign spyware presents a counterintelligence risk for the US, as other governments may gain insight into American surveillance capabilities.
The approval of the contract comes amid ongoing debates over balancing national security and civil liberties, with lawmakers urged to clarify the circumstances under which such surveillance tools can be deployed.
