The CEO of Vancouver-based tech company Hootsuite is responding to backlash over a contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A U.S. government procurement website shows that Hootsuite is providing social media services to the DHS, with the contract beginning in August 2024.
The contract between Homeland Security and New York-based Seneca Strategic Partners is to provide “social media management platform Hootsuite and support services,” and is worth up to $2.8 million US, according to the procurement website.
The site does not explain the relationship between Hootsuite and Seneca, which describes itself as a federal government contracting business wholly owned by the Seneca Nation of Indians.
A protest outside Hootsuite’s Vancouver headquarters is planned for Friday by a group called Democracy Rising, which is urging Hootsuite to “cancel its contracts and publicly apologize.”
‘Insurrection’?: How Minnesota is being singled out in ‘largest’ crackdown ‘ever’ | About That
ICE has come under heavy criticism for its actions during a recent immigration crackdown in the state of Minnesota, with the deaths of two U.S. citizens in federal agent-involved shootings being a particular flashpoint.
Hootsuite CEO Irina Novoselsky said in a statement Wednesday that “what we are watching unfold right now is wrong.”
She said the loss of life and the fear being felt in communities as a result of recent enforcement actions are “devastating.”
“Beyond how painful it has been to process the current situation on a personal level, we have also felt the concern expressed about Hootsuite’s work with ICE’s public affairs office,” Novoselsky said.
Protesters, police clash outside hotel housing ICE agents
Novoselsky said Hootsuite has worked with government organizations across countries and administrations for more than 15 years, including the U.S. government.
“Our use-case with ICE does not include tracking or surveillance of individuals using our tools. Any claim otherwise is false and prohibited under our terms of service, which we actively enforce,” she said.
Novoselsky said Hootsuite’s technology “makes public conversation visible at scale” and “helps organizations understand what people are saying using unbiased, authentic social data.”
Her statement does not commit to an end to the contract, saying the company’s responsibility is to its customers and standards that demonstrate how its technology is used.
“We work with a wide range of organizations because listening to real conversations leads to insights that drive better decisions and accountability, without endorsing specific actions or policies,” the statement adds.
A release posted by the Department of Homeland Security last year says the department would only use Hootsuite to manage its social media channels to deliver information to the general public “while promoting transparency and accountability” for those seeking information from the department.
Hootsuite was founded in 2008 and employs about 1,000 people across the globe.
In 2020, the company’s then-CEO Tom Keiser announced it had axed a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a “broad emotional and passionate” reaction from staff.
He did not share why staff were concerned, but said the issue created a divided company and it was not the kind of business he wanted to lead, so he reversed the decision.
In an unrelated news conference Tuesday, B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma urged Canadian businesses to think about their role when considering business with ICE.
It comes after another B.C. company, Jim Pattison Developments, is in the process of selling one of its warehouses in Hanover, Va., to ICE.
B.C. attorney general wants businesses to ‘think about their role’ supporting ICE
In a statement, a spokesperson for Jim Pattison Developments said the property was publicly listed for sale after “operating needs changed,” and an offer was accepted to sell to a U.S. government contractor.
“Some time later, we became aware of the ultimate owner and intended use of the building,” the spokesperson wrote. “This transaction is still subject to certain approvals and closing conditions.”
B.C. company criticized for potential ICE business deal
