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House Democrats introduced legislation that if passed would force federal immigration enforcement agents to wear a public-facing identification in the form of a clearly visible and scannable QR code during enforcement actions.

The measure, H.R. 7233, was introduced last week by Rep. Ritchie Torre, a Democrat from New York, and referred to the House judiciary and homeland security committees. It currently has two cosponsors, Democratic Reps. Darren Soto and Shri Thanedar, and has taken no steps beyond initial referral.

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[-] 7112@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago

Or... get this crazy idea: We can require them to remove their masks when on duty.

[-] LemmyFeed@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 weeks ago

How about both eh?

[-] fizzle@quokk.au 3 points 2 weeks ago

Pretty much. It just seems nuts that the idea of a government security force wearing masks is not a source of constant outrage from the entire political spectrum. Accountability is a basic principle of modern government.

Even if you're a MAGA fuckwit and agree with everything ICE is doing, you should be gravely concerned that they're doing it while wearing masks.

[-] ReallyActuallyFrankenstein@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

What, and have them feel a modicum of responsibility for their actions?

Wow, it's like you don't even appreciate the roving gangs of unaccountable state-sponsored masked murderers that Stephen Miller and Trump worked so hard to buy for you with your money.

[-] butwhyishischinabook@piefed.social 16 points 2 weeks ago

Jesus fucking Christ just abolish ICE already you spineless, useless collaborators.

[-] phx@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

No shit. Like right now the fuckers aren't even keeping proper plates on their vehicles and are still running around masked like gangsters.

Even if they did have a QR code, what's it going to do give them a link to a hotline?

"Hello, this is the ICE complaints line, please leave your name, number, and residential address and we'll dispatch an armed goon squad to deal with your 'complaint' "

[-] MuskyMelon@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago

How about a mark on the forehead instead?

Carved logo

[-] SirEDCaLot@lemmy.today 14 points 2 weeks ago

Nice idea, wrong technology.

The problem with QR codes is they're a. not human readable, and b. not instantly verifiable.

Take a QR code and a stencil, spray a few of the black modules white and white modules black, and now you have a thing that looks exactly like a QR code to any human but in reality will not scan.

A better idea would be requiring a badge number to be displayed in minimum 1" tall letters/numbers on the front of the uniform, and minimum 2" tall letters/numbers on the back of the uniform, whenever on duty.

[-] apftwb@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

I think we should allocate a few billion to ensure all officers are given "calming bananas". I think if they were to eat the calming banana before their shift, it should decrease the likelihood of them killing citizens. They are likely acting out because they are hungry. Anyway, glad we found some common ground.

[-] ClassStruggle@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 weeks ago

The fucking idiots trying to reform an agency that must be abolished. Who's gonna be getting close enough to scan their codes?

[-] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 5 points 2 weeks ago

Useless if the traffickers aren't unmasked, not registered with the states, keep their qualified immunity, lack body cameras that are controlled by the states, and...LIST GOES ON

It would be much easier, cheaper, and more ethical to abolish ICE outright, and then form immigration services that are attached solely to their respective states. In turn, migrants will gravitate towards working with the states that don't suck. Red states can have the delusion of their isolationist superiority, even as their economies falter and die.

[-] Ancalagon@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Oh this is sinister. They can now add malicious things to QR codes. So literally you scan it and tell on yourself to Palantir. Fuck morons.

[-] 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 weeks ago

no one can force you to follow a link you scan, that is not how it works.

the problem i see in this is that when someone is shooting you in the back, it doesn't help much that he is labeled with qr code.

[-] criscodisco@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

This is why they should be disarmed, defunded, and dissolved.

They are enforcing paperwork. They need a pen, not a gun.

[-] 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

yeah. i mean step one should be banning them from wearing face mask. wtf kind of logic is that you are allowed to wear face mask and then they put qr code on you to compensate for that? they will just shoot you when you try to scan it and say they were afraid for their life.

[-] Ancalagon@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

Google and apple can, they could make it a convenience update. Lol https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/security/what-is-quishing/

I'm sure Palantir is motivated enough to find a way.

[-] 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 weeks ago

technique described on the link still requires you to actively open the link after you scan it.

[-] optissima@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 weeks ago

I have seen phones auto-open scanned links, it was one based on android.

[-] 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago

that is really bad application and you can choose some other. it is really not the norm. the point is this is not some universal vector of attack.

it is stupid attempt for a solution anyway, but not for this reason.

[-] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 weeks ago

VPN or IP spoofing?

The problem I see is if they're too small. Maybe somebody records an agent doing something fucked up, but unless you can nab a high fidelity screenshot showing the QR code clearly, does it really matter if it's there?

It would be good to have a digital database tracking each agent, saying "so-and-so was spotted at such-and-such place doing this-and-that; here are some photos and video evidence."

Or "Here's a group of ICE thugs brutalizing a bystander. Here are the QR codes that were spotted."

But again, that all depends on people actually being able to scan the QR codes...

[-] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago

there were cameras like everyone, we got like 20 different angles... and they still murdered an innocent person.

training, cameras, ids.... those aren't the problem.

[-] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 weeks ago

It's a fine idea, but how are you supposed to approach close enough to scan the QR code if they tackle and shoot people for using cameras?

[-] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

yeah lemme just pull out my phone to scan this qr- ah fuck they already shot me, like the last guy who had his phone out

[-] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 weeks ago

I can think of a more recognizable square symbol to go on their forehead

[-] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 2 points 2 weeks ago

They moved out from "Let's give ICE 1 billion dollars for cams" since they found out that they still killing people while wearing cams.

[-] silentjohn@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

This needs a Not The Onion tag lol

[-] priapus@piefed.social 1 points 2 weeks ago

Such a stupid idea. Just give them a normal ID you can look up, why should it be a QR code?

[-] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago

A QR code is just that, a modern version of a code you can look up. However, I would worry that it might be hard to scan or read from a casual or safe distance if it's not large enough on their uniform.

[-] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 weeks ago

Except you MUST have a phone or other recording device available to record it.

An ID number can be memorized.

[-] Archangel1313@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago
[-] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

God damnit…

[-] AccoSpoot@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

Unless the legislation is "Abolish ICE" then it's functionally nothing at this point.

[-] kreskin@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

No deals. We cant normalize this behavior in any way. Masks off and ID presented or they are presumed to be civilians.

[-] nosuchanon@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

At this point, the only reason to have meta glasses is because they always film and can automate identification without being targeted for having your phone out.

[-] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago
[-] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, they'll just fuck with the QR codes and make them unreadable by adding in extra dots.

[-] bstix@feddit.dk 1 points 2 weeks ago

QR codes do have some degree of error correction.

Try it. Draw over some white spaces. It'll still scan.

[-] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, I think it might have been Veritasium that did a video on it, but they can still be made unscannable. Ultimately, they don't wear barges as is, and their body cams seem to only work when they want them to, so what's the point. Fascism doesn't show it's face. They are going to find ways to hide no matter what.

[-] runner_g@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago

If you open any online QR code generator, you'll see a redundancy field, which is a percentage and encodes for how damaged a code can get before it's unreadable. you can set it pretty high. All that said, it'd be a hell of a lot better to abolish ICE.

this post was submitted on 26 Jan 2026
49 points (100.0% liked)

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