CBP wants new technology to search for hidden data on seized phones

Customs protection and border protection (CBP) United States requests technology companies to display digital forensic tools designed to process and analyze text messages, photos, videos and contacts Seized phones, laptops and other devices on the United States borderAccording to the documents it reviewed wired.

Agency He said in the Federal Registry List The tools that he is looking for are very specific capabilities, such as the ability to find a “hidden language” in a person’s text messages; Determining specific objects, “such as a red wheel bike”, via different videos; Access to chats in encrypted messaging applications; And “search for patterns” in large data collections for “Intel Generation”. The list was first published on June 20 and was updated on July 1.

CBP CELLEBRITE is used to extract and analyze data from devices Since 2008. But the agency said it wanted to “expand” and update the digital forensic program. Last year, CBP claims, She did the search On more than 47,000 electronic devices – which is almost a little higher than the device 41500 devices I looked in 2023, but a dramatic rise since 2015, when I looked More than 8500 devices only.

The so -called information request (RFI) comes Amid a series of reports From CBP People’s detention enter United States, Sometimes interrogation About them Their travel plans or Political beliefsSometimes Collect and research Their phones. In a high -level incident in March, a Lebanese professor at the College of Medicine at the University of Brown was sent to Lebanon after the authorities She searched her phone She claimed that she was “sympathetic” with former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated in September 2024.

In RFI, CBP said that the digital forensic seller chosen will sign a contract in the third fiscal quarter of 2026, which will continue from April to June. CBP currently has eight active contracts for Cellebrite programs, licenses, equipment and training – more than $ 1.3 million in total – which will end between July 2025 and April 2026. CBP seems to use other tools other than Cellebrite. The agency said in the last list that it uses a “wide range of digital data extraction tools”, but it does not call these tools.

CBP did not respond to the suspension requests. When it was reached for the comment, Victor Cooper, a spokesman for Cellebrite Wire, told the company “unable to comment on active requests to obtain information proposals.”

Three federal contracts remember that CBP is pushing for the 4PC global forensic medicine extraction device (UFC), a data analysis program. On the user’s computer or laptop for the user. Do not mention the “Renewal of License” menu as a specific product, but it may have indicated the digital intelligence platform, which is Cellebrite’s A group of tools “from end to end” From data analysis from devices.

Through the intelligence platform in Cellebrite, users have a wide range of capabilities. maybe Sort the pictures Based on whether they contain certain elements, such as jewelry, handwriting or documents. It can also go through text messages, as well as direct messages On applications like TiktokAnd Liquidation of messages This mentions some topics, such as obstructing evidence, family or police. Users can also The “hidden” images unveiled the images By the owner of the device, Make social maps From friends and communications, and Draw the sites Where a person sent text messages.