Clearview AI, a controversial facial recognition software provider, has a new deal with ICE, the most notorious U.S. government agency. Clearview was also considered to partner with the Homeland Security Office, which was widely criticized for enforcing the Trump administration 's draconian immigration policies. The latest contract makes it clear that the partnership is ongoing — and that Clearview is not only playing a bit of a part in the lucrative tech scrum for federal contracts.

First reported by Tech Watchdog Tech Untersuchung, the new deal is worth $224,000 and will provide the Agency with what is only known as "Clearview Licenses," which is actually just access to the company's software services. According to the award document, the contract procurement agency is Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of ICE that focuses on "cross-border illegal activity," including drug trafficking and human trafficking. Four companies were competing for the contract.

Clearview is no stranger to contention. The very obscure facial recognition program allows clients to upload a photo of someone and cross-reference it to a vast collection of images scrapped from online outlets, including social networks. Civil rights advocates see Clearview 's software as a privacy nightmare, but it's a dream come true for any law enforcement agency concerned with tracking people down.