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404 Media are suing ICE over $2 million spyware contract (www.404media.co)

submitted 1 week ago by cabbage@piefed.social to c/usauthoritarianism@lemmy.world

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404 Media has filed a lawsuit against ICE for access to its contract with Paragon, a company that sells powerful spyware for breaking into phones and accessing encrypted messaging apps.

On Monday 404 Media filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding the agency publish its $2 million contract with Paragon, a company that makes powerful spyware that can remotely break into mobile phones without the target even clicking a link. The sale of the spyware to ICE has activists and lawmakers deeply concerned about what the agency, which continues to push the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort, may use the technology for. The contract and related documents 404 Media is suing for may provide more information on what ICE intends to do with the spyware.

“404 Media has asked ICE to disclose agency records relating to its contract with a company known for its powerful spyware tool whose potential use in the agency’s ongoing mass-deportation campaign has prompted lawmakers, civil liberties organizations, and immigration groups to express deep concerns over potential civil rights abuses,” the lawsuit says.

404 Media first filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with ICE for documents related to its Paragon purchase in September 2024. Under the law, agencies are required to provide a response within 20 days, or provide an explanation of why they need more time. ICE acknowledged receipt of the request in September 2024, but has not since replied to any follow up inquiries. 404 Media then filed the lawsuit.

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[–] Turret3857 29 points 1 week ago (1 children)

this is why 404media is the goat

[–] Cybersec@piefed.social 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I had seen them around but didn’t look at them specifically, am going to follow them directly now.

[–] AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

They're pretty great, especially in terms of demonstrating that it is possible to do high quality journalism and be financially viable; Many of the journalists they started out with were the good ones who were laid off or quit when some other places gave up on producing anything of value, and they've been pretty mindful to not grow too fast and to focus on being sustainable.

Whilst some of their stuff is paywalled, I really appreciate that their coverage of public service issues (such as coverage of government data released through freedom of information requests) is always free. If I had the disposable income to do so, I would definitely be a paying subscriber because they do consistently good coverage, especially on tech issues (and we need that now more than ever).

[–] Cybersec@piefed.social 2 points 1 week ago

Sounds great to me, I’ll follow them, thank you.