Nvidia has become the first $5 trillion company in the world and is now powering U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) investigative division, according to federal records obtained by The Intercept.
The technology giant's software licenses will be used by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an enforcement division that has been tasked with transnational crime under President Donald Trump's administration. This summer, ICE renewed access to software tools for HSI, which is part of the department's growing investment in large language models (LLMs).
Large language models can be used to draw inference by fusing people's publicly available data and might be used by ICE to identify persons of interest and generate investigative leads. However, these models have been criticized for well-documented flaws, including reproducing biases.
"This problem makes it more likely that people will be targeted based on flawed intelligence," said Amos Toh, senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice.
ICE has stated that it employs various forms of technology to investigate criminal activity and support law enforcement efforts while respecting civil liberties and privacy interests. However, when asked whether Nvidia had any ability to ensure ICE was using its technology lawfully, a company spokesperson told The Intercept that millions of U.S. consumers, businesses, and government agencies use general-purpose computers every day.
Nvidia's involvement with HSI is part of the company's efforts to expand into new markets and increase its presence in Washington, D.C. President Trump has been a vocal supporter of Nvidia, praising the company's CEO at a tech conference earlier this year.
HSI's mission has shifted under Trump's administration, with a focus on immigration enforcement. The agency is playing a growing role in enforcing laws and has been criticized for aggressive tactics, including raids and arrests.
Nvidia offers a range of software-based services that could be useful for HSI data analysis, including platforms to run large language models and video analytics. However, the company's claims about adhering to international human rights frameworks are unclear, particularly given its involvement with ICE.
The Intercept has reported on concerns around Nvidia's involvement with the U.S. government, citing issues with surveillance and data collection. The article raises questions about the role of technology companies like Nvidia in enforcing policies that can lead to mass surveillance and erosion of civil liberties.
In a recent report, the Department of Homeland Security highlighted HSI's potential use of machine learning tools, including large language models. This has raised concerns about the agency's ability to analyze and classify data, particularly when it comes to sensitive information like utility customer data from Con Edison.
As the U.S. government becomes increasingly reliant on technology companies for law enforcement and surveillance efforts, there are growing concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the potential for mass surveillance. The Intercept will continue to cover these issues and push for transparency and accountability in the use of technology for law enforcement purposes.
The technology giant's software licenses will be used by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an enforcement division that has been tasked with transnational crime under President Donald Trump's administration. This summer, ICE renewed access to software tools for HSI, which is part of the department's growing investment in large language models (LLMs).
Large language models can be used to draw inference by fusing people's publicly available data and might be used by ICE to identify persons of interest and generate investigative leads. However, these models have been criticized for well-documented flaws, including reproducing biases.
"This problem makes it more likely that people will be targeted based on flawed intelligence," said Amos Toh, senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice.
ICE has stated that it employs various forms of technology to investigate criminal activity and support law enforcement efforts while respecting civil liberties and privacy interests. However, when asked whether Nvidia had any ability to ensure ICE was using its technology lawfully, a company spokesperson told The Intercept that millions of U.S. consumers, businesses, and government agencies use general-purpose computers every day.
Nvidia's involvement with HSI is part of the company's efforts to expand into new markets and increase its presence in Washington, D.C. President Trump has been a vocal supporter of Nvidia, praising the company's CEO at a tech conference earlier this year.
HSI's mission has shifted under Trump's administration, with a focus on immigration enforcement. The agency is playing a growing role in enforcing laws and has been criticized for aggressive tactics, including raids and arrests.
Nvidia offers a range of software-based services that could be useful for HSI data analysis, including platforms to run large language models and video analytics. However, the company's claims about adhering to international human rights frameworks are unclear, particularly given its involvement with ICE.
The Intercept has reported on concerns around Nvidia's involvement with the U.S. government, citing issues with surveillance and data collection. The article raises questions about the role of technology companies like Nvidia in enforcing policies that can lead to mass surveillance and erosion of civil liberties.
In a recent report, the Department of Homeland Security highlighted HSI's potential use of machine learning tools, including large language models. This has raised concerns about the agency's ability to analyze and classify data, particularly when it comes to sensitive information like utility customer data from Con Edison.
As the U.S. government becomes increasingly reliant on technology companies for law enforcement and surveillance efforts, there are growing concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the potential for mass surveillance. The Intercept will continue to cover these issues and push for transparency and accountability in the use of technology for law enforcement purposes.
. Nvidia's involvement with ICE is like a Trojan horse, where we're letting a powerful tech company that can influence policy decisions into shaping our immigration laws 
. It raises questions about who's really pulling the strings here and what kind of 'lawful' usage does Nvidia guarantee? I mean, if large language models are flawed and can reproduce biases, how do we trust that they won't be used to target marginalized communities or fuel mass surveillance? 
We need more transparency from these tech giants about their involvement with government agencies and the potential risks it poses. It's time for a national conversation about the intersection of technology and governance 
. I mean, they're just handing over their tech licenses like it's no big deal 
. And what really gets me is that we don't know if they're even checking to see if ICE is using this stuff responsibly 
. The whole thing reeks of mass surveillance and erosion of civil liberties 
. Nvidia's just cashing in on their tech, while also potentially enabling some pretty shady stuff 
. Nvidia's involvement with ICE is super concerning, especially when it comes to large language models and data analysis. I mean, we all know how flawed these models can be, but what if they're used to target people of interest based on biased intel? It's like, the more we rely on tech for law enforcement, the more our civil liberties slip away 
.
. But at the same time, I do think we need to have a conversation about how our tech companies are being used for law enforcement purposes. It's not like they're not making money off of it - millions of consumers and businesses use their tech every day! 
. We need to make sure our tech companies are held accountable for how they're using their power.
its like theyre playing with fire here, who really knows how theyll use this stuff? Nvidia just says it follows human rights frameworks, but what if theyre just enabling bad stuff? and theres nothing anyone can really do about it yet 
I mean, we've got large language models being used to target people based on flawed intelligence, which just sounds like a recipe for disaster. And what's with this "millions of users" argument from Nvidia? That's not exactly reassuring when you think about all the ways that ICE is using technology to surveil and track certain groups of people