Executive Summary
- The PCLOB report confirms the FBI relies on Clearview AI, Babel Street, and ZeroFox for open-source intelligence.
- Operational details and usage criteria for these tools are restricted to a classified annex.
- The FBI has purchased approximately 5,000 licenses for Babel Street’s data aggregation software.
- The oversight board warned that the aggregation of open-source data poses risks to privacy and civil liberties.
A November 2025 report by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) has confirmed the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s extensive reliance on commercial surveillance platforms—specifically Clearview AI, Babel Street, and ZeroFox—to support its open-source intelligence (OSINT) operations. The oversight body’s findings indicate that while these tools have become essential to the bureau’s investigative workflows, their operational use remains largely shielded from public scrutiny.
According to the unclassified report, these commercial systems allow federal agents to aggregate public data, identify individuals through facial recognition, and monitor online threats with significant speed. However, the PCLOB warned that the platforms are capable of collecting sensitive data on individuals. While the report acknowledges the central role these tools play in modern investigations, the specific details regarding how often they are used, in what types of cases, and under what internal criteria are confined to a classified annex accessible only to the White House, FBI leadership, and congressional intelligence committees.
The report identifies Clearview AI as a primary tool for the bureau’s identity-resolution efforts. The PCLOB confirmed that the FBI utilizes the platform, which matches photographs against a database of billions of images scraped from the internet, although the bureau declined to decontrol specific details regarding its deployment. The inclusion of Clearview AI in the classified annex suggests it is actively and routinely used for operationally sensitive tasks, converting surveillance footage or social media images into potential identities.
In addition to facial recognition, the FBI has heavily invested in data aggregation and threat monitoring. Procurement records cited in the analysis reveal that the FBI acquired approximately 5,000 licenses for Babel Street’s Babel X product, indicating widespread adoption across field offices. This system allows agents to analyze data from social networks, blogs, and the deep web. ZeroFox is similarly utilized for external threat intelligence, specifically to protect agents and facilities by scanning the web for indicators of harm and coordinated malicious campaigns.
Beth A. Williams, a PCLOB member appointed by President Trump, played a key role in the release of the report, which emphasizes that the aggregation of open-source information poses risks to privacy and civil liberties. The board concluded that commercial surveillance technology now shapes the FBI’s OSINT capabilities as much as traditional investigative techniques.
Surveillance Oversight Implications
The PCLOB’s findings highlight a significant evolution in federal investigative strategy, marking a definitive shift toward reliance on private-sector data aggregation to augment traditional intelligence gathering. This integration of commercial surveillance technology into standard law enforcement procedure raises complex questions regarding transparency and the scope of privacy protections in the digital sphere. As the FBI continues to operationalize these third-party tools, the balance between investigative efficiency and the oversight of civil liberties remains a critical area for future regulatory and legislative examination.
