ICE Utilizes Credit Header Data for Address Tracking, Raising Privacy Concerns
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is using credit header data to track individuals' addresses without a warrant, according to a report by 404 Media. This data, which includes names, addresses, and contact details, is collected by credit bureaus like Equifax and Experian and then fed into CLEAR, an investigative tool from Thomson Reuters. ICE has paid $125 million for access to CLEAR, which is used to rate the confidence in an address for potential raids. However, the data's accuracy is questionable, as errors can occur when a relative's address is mistakenly included on a shared bill. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) had proposed a rule to close this loophole, but the Trump administration weakened the agency, leaving the rule unenforced.