A newly released trove of federal contracts offers a detailed look into the United States Department of Homeland Security’s growing investment in artificial intelligence technologies. The records, spanning more than two decades, reveal a portfolio of projects aimed at predictive policing, airport surveillance, and mobile biometric collection.

The dataset, obtained by journalists through the transparency nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets and reported by The Guardian, originates from DHS’s technology incubator, the Office of Industry Partnership (OIP). It details over 1,400 contracts worth roughly $845 million, awarded to private companies developing early-stage AI technologies under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

Predicting Crime with AI

Among the projects are initiatives designed to analyze nationwide emergency call data to forecast criminal activity. In May, three contracts totaling $524,000 were awarded for systems capable of ingesting data from more than 5,000 911 call centers. One notable proposal came from Bangor, Maine–based Cassius LLC, which sought to build the Consolidated Incident Management Analytics System (CIMAS). The platform would centralize emergency call and incident data, anonymize it, and produce geospatial maps and predictive models to guide law enforcement responses.

Civil liberties advocates have long criticized predictive policing systems, warning that algorithms may amplify existing biases under the guise of objectivity. Several major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago, discontinued predictive policing programs between 2019 and 2020 due to these concerns.

Enhanced Airport Surveillance

The contracts also highlight AI-driven surveillance technologies targeting airports. Four projects awarded in May, totaling approximately $699,000, focus on monitoring passengers approaching TSA checkpoints. These systems leverage machine learning to analyze live video feeds, track individuals, and record visual features such as clothing and accessories.

Companies involved in these projects include Intellisense, which developed algorithms to detect and flag individuals in real-time video, and Synthetic Applied Technologies, specializing in deep learning solutions for CCTV streams. Both firms have prior DHS contracting experience, while new entrants like Cassius LLC are expanding the competitive landscape for federal surveillance technology.

Mobile Biometrics for Field Operations

A third area of development involves mobile biometric tools that allow federal agents to collect fingerprints, facial scans, and iris data using portable devices. Contracts awarded in May support devices like Idea Mind LLC’s Vibe, Intellisense Systems’ Flow, and Integrated Biometrics’ Bios Link, which integrate biometric scanners with smartphones for field deployment.

Such technology could be used by border agents, immigration officials, and law enforcement personnel, raising questions about privacy and the oversight of biometric data collection.

DHS Technology Pipeline and Oversight Concerns

The leaked contracts provide an unprecedented overview of DHS’s technology pipeline, including proposals from over 6,800 companies submitted to the OIP. SBIR grants typically begin as proof-of-concept awards between $100,000 and $175,000, later progressing to prototype development exceeding $1 million. The records span projects from 2004 through 2025 and coincide with a recent $165 billion increase in federal funding for homeland security programs.

Experts warn that these contracts illustrate the federal government’s expanding interest in automated surveillance and predictive analytics. Jeramie Scott, director of the Surveillance Oversight Project at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, noted, “It appears agencies are increasingly embracing technologies straight out of science fiction, often without fully considering the societal implications.”

The documents underscore the scale and ambition of federal AI initiatives, highlighting the balance between innovation and civil liberties as DHS continues to integrate advanced technology into national security operations.