CBP Employees Accused of Misusing Government Databases for Personal Reasons

Internal records obtained by Wired reveal that employees and contractors of the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been accused of misusing sensitive government databases for personal reasons unrelated to their official duties. The records contain hundreds of allegations, including instances where federal agents queried data to look up romantic interests, monitor family members, and even provide intelligence to suspected smugglers or drug-trafficking organizations.

These records, acquired through Freedom of Information Act requests to CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, highlight a troubling pattern of database abuse by CBP employees over more than a decade. As surveillance capabilities expand through technologies like facial recognition and mobile-device searches, the data from 2009 to 2022 underscores the potential for misuse of sensitive information by federal employees.

Allegations of Misuse

Specific allegations include a CBP officer reportedly using government databases to contact a flight attendant and another officer accused of pulling information from trusted-traveler applications to ask individuals out. Additionally, some employees were said to have provided border-crossing data to individuals involved in personal disputes, while a DHS employee allegedly tracked coworkers’ cell phones using controversial ad-tech-derived location data.

Laura Rivera, an attorney with Just Futures Law, commented on the situation, stating, “Customs and Border Protection has a long history of impunity and abuse of people’s civil and human rights.” She emphasized the need for accountability as society increasingly adopts AI and data collection tools, making individuals more vulnerable to such abuses.

Investigation and Findings

Of nearly 300 data-related entries identified, 138 were referred to CBP management for review, and 78 were serious enough to warrant investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility. The records also revealed 99 entries involving alleged breaches or unauthorized disclosures of data, with many cases surfacing around 2020 when remote work became more common.

Daniel Altman, the former head of the Office of Professional Responsibility, noted that self-queries by employees are often seen as a warning sign of potential misconduct, indicating a need for closer scrutiny of how sensitive data is accessed and used.