Giant Oak: Difference between revisions

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{{Company Page

|name=Giant Oak

|industry=Data analytics; AI/ML software; open-source intelligence (OSINT); social media monitoring

|image=GiantOak.jpg

|country=United States

|founded=2013

|headquarters=Arlington, Virginia, United States

|status=Active

|boycott_reason=Documented contracting and operational support for U.S. immigration enforcement agencies under DHS, including ICE/HSI, through open-source and social media data analytics and monitoring (including the “Giant Oak Search Technology”/GOST platform) used to identify, rank, and flag people for immigration enforcement and related investigative workflows.

|verification=Verified

}}

== Overview ==

Giant Oak is a United States–based data analytics and software company that markets AI/ML-driven screening and monitoring tools, including open-source and social media analytics products. Public reporting, FOIA-released DHS documentation, and federal procurement records describe Giant Oak as a contractor whose products and services have been used by DHS components involved in immigration enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).<ref name="Brennan2019">[[https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/social-media-surveillance-homeland-security-investigations-threat Social Media Surveillance by Homeland Security Investigations | Brennan Center for Justice]] (Nov. 15, 2019)</ref><ref name="AFSCGiantOak">[[https://investigate.afsc.org/company/giant-oak Giant Oak Inc | AFSC Investigate]]</ref>

== Boycott ==

Giant Oak is listed for boycott due to documented work supporting ICE/DHS immigration enforcement capacity through open-source and social media monitoring, aggregation, and analytics.

Public research and reporting describe ICE/HSI use of “Giant Oak Search Technology” (GOST) to monitor and analyze online and social media content, including for immigration-related targeting and investigative prioritization.<ref name="Brennan2019" /><ref name="GuardianGost2023">[[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/05/us-immigration-homeland-security-social-media-fake-profiles Revealed: how US immigration uses fake social media ... | The Guardian]] (Sept. 5, 2023)</ref><ref name="404MediaGost2023">[[https://www.404media.co/inside-ices-database-derogatory-information-giant-oak-gost/ Inside ICE's Database for Finding 'Derogatory' Online Speech | 404 Media]] (Oct. 24, 2023)</ref>

Federal procurement records also show DHS contract awards to GIANT OAK, INC., consistent with provision of data analytics capabilities used within DHS immigration enforcement and related operational contexts.<ref name="USASpending2017IDV">[[https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_IDV_HSCEMD17D00001_7012 IDV to GIANT OAK, INC. | USAspending]]</ref><ref name="USASpending2018">[[https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70CMSD18FR0000096_7012_HSCEMD17D00001_7012 CONTRACT to GIANT OAK, INC. | USAspending]]</ref><ref name="USASpending2019">[[https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70CMSD19FR0000060_7012_HSCEMD17D00001_7012 CONTRACT to GIANT OAK, INC. | USAspending]]</ref>

Because open-source and social media analytics contracts can materially expand surveillance, lead-generation, and targeting capacity, ICE List documents and, where applicable, boycotts companies whose work supports immigration enforcement operations and related investigative functions.<ref name="Brennan2019" /><ref name="AFSCGiantOak" />

== Background ==

ICE and other DHS components rely on contractors for technology and analytics across enforcement and investigative functions. Social media monitoring and automated/algorithmic lead-ranking tools are routinely criticized for privacy risks, bias, and error—especially when used for immigration enforcement decisions with high stakes for affected individuals and communities.<ref name="Brennan2019" /><ref name="BrennanFOIA2023">[[https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/dhs-social-media-monitoring-foia-documents DHS Social Media Monitoring FOIA Documents | Brennan Center for Justice]] (Sept. 5, 2023)</ref>

== Sources ==

[[Category:Boycott]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Company Page
 |name=Giant Oak
+|industry=Data analytics; AI/ML software; open-source intelligence (OSINT); social media monitoring
+|image=GiantOak.jpg
+|country=United States
+|founded=2013
+|headquarters=Arlington, Virginia, United States
 |status=Active
+|boycott_reason=Documented contracting and operational support for U.S. immigration enforcement agencies under DHS, including ICE/HSI, through open-source and social media data analytics and monitoring (including the “Giant Oak Search Technology”/GOST platform) used to identify, rank, and flag people for immigration enforcement and related investigative workflows.
+|verification=Verified
 }}
 == Overview ==
+Giant Oak is a United States–based data analytics and software company that markets AI/ML-driven screening and monitoring tools, including open-source and social media analytics products. Public reporting, FOIA-released DHS documentation, and federal procurement records describe Giant Oak as a contractor whose products and services have been used by DHS components involved in immigration enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).<ref name="Brennan2019">[[https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/social-media-surveillance-homeland-security-investigations-threat Social Media Surveillance by Homeland Security Investigations | Brennan Center for Justice]] (Nov. 15, 2019)</ref><ref name="AFSCGiantOak">[[https://investigate.afsc.org/company/giant-oak Giant Oak Inc | AFSC Investigate]]</ref>
 == Boycott ==
+Giant Oak is listed for boycott due to documented work supporting ICE/DHS immigration enforcement capacity through open-source and social media monitoring, aggregation, and analytics.
+Public research and reporting describe ICE/HSI use of “Giant Oak Search Technology” (GOST) to monitor and analyze online and social media content, including for immigration-related targeting and investigative prioritization.<ref name="Brennan2019" /><ref name="GuardianGost2023">[[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/05/us-immigration-homeland-security-social-media-fake-profiles Revealed: how US immigration uses fake social media ... | The Guardian]] (Sept. 5, 2023)</ref><ref name="404MediaGost2023">[[https://www.404media.co/inside-ices-database-derogatory-information-giant-oak-gost/ Inside ICE's Database for Finding 'Derogatory' Online Speech | 404 Media]] (Oct. 24, 2023)</ref>
+Federal procurement records also show DHS contract awards to GIANT OAK, INC., consistent with provision of data analytics capabilities used within DHS immigration enforcement and related operational contexts.<ref name="USASpending2017IDV">[[https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_IDV_HSCEMD17D00001_7012 IDV to GIANT OAK, INC. | USAspending]]</ref><ref name="USASpending2018">[[https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70CMSD18FR0000096_7012_HSCEMD17D00001_7012 CONTRACT to GIANT OAK, INC. | USAspending]]</ref><ref name="USASpending2019">[[https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70CMSD19FR0000060_7012_HSCEMD17D00001_7012 CONTRACT to GIANT OAK, INC. | USAspending]]</ref>
+Because open-source and social media analytics contracts can materially expand surveillance, lead-generation, and targeting capacity, ICE List documents and, where applicable, boycotts companies whose work supports immigration enforcement operations and related investigative functions.<ref name="Brennan2019" /><ref name="AFSCGiantOak" />
 == Background ==
+ICE and other DHS components rely on contractors for technology and analytics across enforcement and investigative functions. Social media monitoring and automated/algorithmic lead-ranking tools are routinely criticized for privacy risks, bias, and error—especially when used for immigration enforcement decisions with high stakes for affected individuals and communities.<ref name="Brennan2019" /><ref name="BrennanFOIA2023">[[https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/dhs-social-media-monitoring-foia-documents DHS Social Media Monitoring FOIA Documents | Brennan Center for Justice]] (Sept. 5, 2023)</ref>
 == Sources ==
+<references />
 [[Category:Boycott]]