According to the Electronic Privacy Information Center, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's predictive policing units—known as Predictive Intelligence Targeting Teams—have been using financial data to identify individuals for anomalous financial activities. The disclosure follows a report by 404 Media that first brought the practice to light.
EPIC says CBP has not explained how it obtained the financial data, and the agency's units have kept their role opaque. The privacy group argues this lack of transparency raises legal concerns, particularly around financial privacy and the limits of predictive policing.
The episode underscores broader questions about the government's use of predictive analytics and whether such programs can operate without clear oversight or public accountability. EPIC's commentary suggests that without disclosure, these practices risk violating due process and privacy expectations.