# ICE Unit Signs $3 Million Contract for Phone Hacking Tech

In a recent development that has raised concerns over the use of advanced technology in law enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement arm Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has signed a contract worth $3 million with Magnet Forensics, a company behind a phone-hacking device called Graykey.

The contract, which was made public on Tuesday through a federal government procurement database, outlines the terms of the agreement between HSI and Magnet Forensics for software licenses related to the phone-hacking tech. According to the contract, the technology is intended for use in recovering digital evidence, processing multiple devices, and generating forensic reports that are essential to the mission of protecting national security and public safety.

While the contract does not specifically mention the product being referred to as Graykey, it is likely that this is the device in question. Graykey is a forensic system developed by Grayshift, which was acquired by private equity firm Thoma Bravo in 2023 and subsequently merged with Magnet Forensics. The technology allows for unlocking smartphones and extracting data from them.

This latest contract marks the second time HSI has signed an agreement with Magnet Forensics for use of Graykey devices. Last year, ICE signed a contract worth $5 million for the same purpose, as first reported by Forbes.

Graykey was launched in 2016 to compete with more established phone-hacking systems like UFED, made by Israeli company Cellebrite. The device has gained attention due to its ability to hack into even highly secured devices without a password or PIN.

HSI's use of Graykey and other advanced technologies raises concerns over the potential for mass surveillance and the erosion of individual privacy rights. In recent years, ICE has been criticized for its use of facial-recognition software provided by Clearview AI, cell phone spyware made by Paragon, and data analytics software made by Palantir to support its mass deportations campaign.

Magnet Forensics did not respond to TechCrunch's request for comment. An ICE spokesperson acknowledged the outreach but did not provide further information by press time. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also did not respond to a request for comment.

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