![CORRECTION / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents use their phones near protestors at a demonstration in Newark, New Jersey May 7, 2025, outside Delaney Hall, a newly converted immigrant detention centre. Delaney Hall has the ability to hold over a 1000 people, and the detention facility, privately owned by The GEO Group, holds a contract with the federal government to house people arrested by ICE. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Newark, New Jersey] instead of [Elizabeth, New Jersey]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require." (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/105380851/1cc5ad0529e6e2a12fc33a28dd1d57baee28641a9b3f283dc42e92ad83bd5ad1)
Overview
- Leaked documents reported by The Guardian, +972 Magazine and Local Call say ICE grew stored data on Microsoft systems from about 400 TB in July 2025 to roughly 1,400 TB by January 2026.
- The reports indicate ICE appears to be using Azure AI tools, including Video Indexer and Vision, to search and analyze images, audio and video.
- Microsoft says it provides cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools to DHS and ICE through partners and reiterates that its terms prohibit mass surveillance of civilians.
- The company states it does not believe ICE is engaged in mass surveillance and urges policymakers to set clearer legal boundaries for law enforcement use of emerging technologies.
- ICE declines to detail investigative techniques, while activist group No Azure for Apartheid and some employees call on Microsoft to end the relationship; Microsoft previously disabled certain services used by an Israeli military unit after media reporting on mass surveillance.