this post was submitted on 26 Jan 2026
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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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[–] SirEDCaLot@lemmy.today 10 points 3 hours 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.

[–] MuskyMelon@lemmy.world 16 points 5 hours ago

How about a mark on the forehead instead?

Carved logo

[–] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 hours ago

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

[–] butwhyishischinabook@piefed.social 28 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

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

[–] phx@lemmy.world 13 points 6 hours 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' "

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 16 points 6 hours 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?

[–] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 14 points 6 hours 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.

[–] Archangel1313@lemmy.ca 5 points 5 hours ago
[–] 7112@lemmy.world 121 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

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

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 12 points 7 hours 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.

[–] LemmyFeed@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 9 hours ago

How about both eh?

[–] ClassStruggle@lemmy.ml 6 points 5 hours ago

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

[–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 8 points 6 hours 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.

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours 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

[–] Ancalagon@lemmy.world 55 points 10 hours ago (3 children)

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.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 3 points 6 hours 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...

[–] 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip 15 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

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 16 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

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

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

[–] Ancalagon@lemmy.world 8 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

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 5 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

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

[–] optissima@lemmy.ml 2 points 8 hours ago

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

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 10 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (1 children)

QR codes can contain other types of information aside from URLs (whose content can be altered remotely by the host). For instance, they can contain vCard data, where the subject’s name and business info are hard-coded into the pattern itself, with no remote connection needed (intended for sharing contact info without internet access). That format might be more appropriate for this case.

This will not work. The problem with vcard QR codes is that they are too dense. People would need to be shooting high resolution video at close distance with a steady hand for the scan to be successful. The only way this could reasonably work would be if they were wearing large micro QR codes, but not all scanners can read those.

[–] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 4 points 6 hours ago

God damnit…

[–] priapus@piefed.social 22 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

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

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 8 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

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 7 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

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

An ID number can be memorized.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 5 points 6 hours ago

Or a camera. I don't see why the QR code couldn't have the number underneath. It doesn't need to be a tracking device.

[–] silentjohn@lemmy.ml 33 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

This needs a Not The Onion tag lol

[–] ClassStruggle@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 hours ago

The Onion can't possibly top the bullshit that comes from these people

[–] SharkAttak@kbin.melroy.org 10 points 9 hours ago

Unless the code is printed with cyanide ink, I don't see how this could be useful.

[–] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 12 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

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

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 2 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

QR codes do have some degree of error correction.

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

[–] chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

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 1 hour 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.

[–] AmbitiousProcess@piefed.social 5 points 8 hours ago

little bit of sharpie over a white square and BOOM, unreadable.

Or, better yet, they'll just do what they've already done, which is simply ignore the requirement. If they won't follow anywhere saying they can't wear masks, they won't wear the codes. Simple as that.

[–] bytesonbike@discuss.online 19 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

And the Democrats will pat themselves on the back at this brave gesture.

(This is sarcasm in case you can't read between the lines)

[–] tyrant@lemmy.world 6 points 8 hours ago

Yes, let's give them more regulations for them to ignore.

If there's no accountability or consequences then who cares if they have a code, number, or even if they are masked.

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 1 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

That's retarded. Should we have it laser burnt on to our arms?.....oh its for them? Sure but add their name on there. What's the point of the QR code if you can only get to it when things are OK? As soon as the retard kills another of us their page will be taken down. the QR code is literally a webpage URL so they can just change it at will. Like special pricing.... When you're at home its $6.99, when you get to the store its $10.99 just for you.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 8 points 9 hours ago

Except the last person murdered by ice was just using his phone