Hacked data has revealed new details about the United States Department of Homeland Security’s growing interest in using artificial intelligence to expand surveillance activities. The information, obtained from the agency’s technology incubator, shows that the department has been funding several projects designed to strengthen monitoring and data analysis capabilities across the country.
The leaked records were collected by a cyber hacktivist and later shared with journalists through a transparency organization. The data includes two large databases that provide insight into how the Department of Homeland Security works with private technology companies.
One database lists more than 6,800 companies that submitted proposals to the agency, while another contains details of over 1,400 contracts that were awarded between 2004 and 2025. Together, these contracts are worth approximately $845 million.
Many of the projects were funded through the Small Business Innovation Research program. This federal program supports small and medium-sized companies that are developing new technologies that may later be used in government operations. The goal is to encourage innovation while helping businesses build products that can succeed in the commercial market.
One major area of focus revealed in the leaked data is biometric data collection. Several companies received funding to develop tools that allow government agents to collect biometric information using smartphones. These technologies include adapters that connect fingerprint and iris scanners directly to mobile devices. In practice, this would allow agents to capture fingerprints, facial images, and other identifying data quickly while in the field.
Another group of projects focuses on airport surveillance. Artificial intelligence systems are being designed to analyze existing airport CCTV footage and automatically identify certain physical features of passengers approaching security checkpoints. The technology could detect clothing types, accessories, and other visible characteristics while tracking individuals moving through airport areas.
The leaked records also highlight efforts to develop predictive policing tools. Some projects aim to create platforms that collect and analyze data from thousands of 911 call centers across the United States. By processing this information with artificial intelligence, the systems could generate geographic crime maps and attempt to identify patterns that may signal future incidents.
Despite the technological ambitions, these projects have raised concerns among privacy and civil liberties advocates. Critics warn that expanded surveillance systems could increase government monitoring of ordinary people and potentially reinforce existing biases in law enforcement.
Past attempts to identify suspicious behavior through observation programs at airports have also faced criticism for lacking reliable scientific evidence. Because of this history, experts question whether new AI-powered systems will truly improve security or simply introduce new risks.
Overall, the leaked data offers a rare look into the scale of the Department of Homeland Security’s plans to use artificial intelligence in surveillance operations. It also highlights the ongoing debate between advancing security technology and protecting individual privacy rights.
What isn’t in doubt is that there is a growing market for new tech products, and companies like Core AI Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CHAI) are leveraging this need and carving out a niche for themselves.
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