Scientist Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged ICE Tracking App Connection

A scientist affiliated with the U.S. Army Research Lab is facing allegations related to the development of an app that tracks Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. Political activist and former congressional candidate Laura Loomer publicly targeted Nicholas Waytowich on social media, calling for an investigation and termination from his position at the Army Research Lab.

The app in question, known as Red Dot, has drawn criticism following a tragic incident last week in which a gunman in Dallas attacked ICE agents. According to federal officials, the shooter utilized a similar application to identify the locations of ICE personnel. Red Dot, available on the Apple App Store, is marketed as “a community-driven safety tool that helps protect immigrant communities through real-time ICE activity reporting and alerts.”

Waytowich is listed as the CEO of Binary Brains LLC, the company behind the app, according to business records in Florida. These records were confirmed by The Baltimore Sun, although it remains uncertain if this specific Binary Brains entity is the same one associated with the app, as other businesses share the name.

On March 12, 2024, Loomer tweeted that it was “completely unacceptable” for Waytowich to hold a position at the Army Research Lab, which is integral to developing technologies for military operations. She asserted that Waytowich should be investigated for potentially endangering ICE agents and called for his dismissal.

By the following morning, Loomer’s tweet had garnered significant attention, with over 1.5 million views and nearly 8,000 reposts. Many users contributed additional information regarding Waytowich.

Loomer, who has previously run for Congress as a Republican, has a history of controversial statements, though she has also received praise from former President Donald Trump. As reported by the Associated Press, Trump has often walked a fine line, commending her while distancing himself from her more polarizing remarks.

Attempts to reach Waytowich for comment included leaving multiple messages via voicemail, email, and text, as well as a visit to his residence. His professional background includes roles as a machine learning research scientist at the Army Research Lab and a part-time faculty member at both Anne Arundel Community College and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

As this situation develops, the implications for Waytowich’s career and the broader discourse surrounding technology and law enforcement will continue to unfold.