Homeland Security Might be Browsing Your Instagram
By Sumana Ali
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is creating surveillance programs that can monitor social media activity to rule out foreign threats, and the possibility has Lehman students alarmed.
“I don’t want my DMs in Homeland Security’s database. Even if they collected my information by mistake, it’s just plain invasion of privacy. We can find a better way to protect the national security,” said Alicia Rodriguez, a political science junior.
According to the Brennen Center for Justice, the DHS continues to take advantage of these platforms by rapidly collecting personal information from social media users’ profiles, which can be used to target religious and ethnic minorities with enhanced vetting and surveillance.
Though these forms of surveillance programs are not new, they are rapidly growing because of Homeland Security’s interest in social media surveillance. Since 2009 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has had an operating policy stating, “This directive applies to searches of electronic devices of all persons arriving in, departing from, or transiting through the United States.”
These programs perform mass surveillance on non-foreign nationals or frequent travelers and people living on visas.
This new initiative to ramp up surveillance could have serious consequences for the citizens being surveilled. ICE has also faced accusations of monitoring social media platforms undocumented immigrants. These surveillance programs in Homeland Security’s hands could mean unpredictable policy and operational changes that could incite more anti-immigrant practices.
ICE has also faced accusations of monitoring social media platforms undocumented immigrants. These surveillance programs in certain agencies’ hand could mean unpredictable policy and operational changes that could incite more anti-immigrant practices.
“What if Homeland Security uses this technology with bias, and people of color and minorities are targeted because of who they are?” said Quamisha Murano, a third-year theatre major at Lehman.
This appears to be happening already with regard to certain groups. Under the Trump Administration, security screenings have been stricter than any other administration. A draft report produced at the request of the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), concluded that these characteristics provided a “baseline to identify at-risk persons.” The CBP even suggested that in addition to initial screenings, these groups of people (young Muslim men) should be “continuously evaluated.”
This technology is also harmful when used out of context. An algorithm targeting people for their social media posts can be the reason why refugee status is denied to a person in need.
“Homeland security monitoring my social media is a problem unless they are getting me more modeling gigs.”
A report by the Department of State stated that DHS is surveilling and using the data to evaluate the security risks posed by foreigners and travelers. DHS and other government agencies currently working on social media surveillance justify it by saying it is in the interest of national security to surveil foreigners. However, many statically supported studies oppose this notion.
The Cato Institute stated, “The chance of an American being murdered in a terrorist attack by a refugee is about 1 in 3.86 billion per year, while the annual chance of being murdered in an attack committed by an illegal immigrant is zero.”
Khedivial Ka, a Lehman graduate student, said, “Thegovernment should asses the needs of the population, not their own interests. If it is strictly for national security, they should surveil everyone without discrimination.”
DHS collecting social media information is not only concerning because of the anti-Islamic sentiment of the administration, but the information collected at this caliber could open a door to invading the privacy of any American citizen.
Though some Americans perceive this technology as harmless because it mainly targets immigrants and foreign visa-holders, experts suggest a very high chance exists of these types of surveillance programs picking up information on unintended subjects. Most of the time this is deliberately done.
Murano said, “Social media is often how I express myself. Even though I am not posting anything wrong, I am still uneasy with someone monitoring me.”
