ICE Gains Access to Israeli Spyware Hacking Phones, Encrypted Apps

The Trump administration has lifted a pause on a $2 million contract allowing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use Graphite, a powerful Israeli-made spyware developed by Paragon Solutions that can hack into any mobile phone and access encrypted applications like WhatsApp and Signal. Originally signed under the Biden administration in late 2024, the contract was paused due to compliance reviews with a Biden executive order restricting government use of spyware, but was reinstated following changes in Paragon’s ownership and regulatory clearance. Graphite enables remote access to phones, including activating microphones covertly, raising significant privacy and civil liberties concerns amid ICE's controversial track record on due process. Civil rights groups and cybersecurity experts warn of potential misuse, citing past abuses of similar spyware against journalists and activists, while Paragon asserts it only works with democracies and enforces strict anti-abuse policies. The deployment of such invasive technology by ICE has sparked alarm over expanded government surveillance powers and the risks posed to immigrant communities and broader civil liberties. This development highlights ongoing tensions between national security tools and privacy rights in the US government’s approach to immigration enforcement.