DHS · DHS-2575 · record R1943

Blockchain Analysis

Department of Homeland Security · ICE

Overview

Development stage: DeployedSource: c) Deployed – The use case is being actively authorized or utilized to support the functions or mission of an agency.
High-impact designation: Presumed high-impact, determined notSource: b) Presumed high-impact, but determined not high impact
Impact justification: Despite falling into a presumed category of high-impact AI, this use case does not meet the definition because the AI’s outputs serve primarily as inputs to an investigative process rather than making legally binding or material decisions itself. HSI investigators review, validate, and contextualize the AI-generated outputs before integrating them into any official case management system. Enforcement decisions and outcomes arise from a full investigative process that includes judicial review and other safeguards, thereby distancing the AI outputs from direct impact on civil liberties or privacy
Start date: 2022-08-16 (day precision)Source: 2022-08-16T00:00:00
Withheld from public reporting: Not reported

Mission

Topic area: Law Enforcement
Operational functions: No function tag matched Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

By utilizing this AI-powered blockchain analysis platform, investigators can uncover hidden connections across blockchain networks, detect illicit activities, and significantly reduce the time required for manual analysis, enhancing HSI’s ability to combat transnational crime effectively.

Expected benefits

The use of AI within TRM Labs improves HSI’s ability to uncover hidden connections across blockchain ecosystems, detect illicit behaviors, and reduce the time required for manual analysis.

System outputs

The platform’s outputs include confidence scores for address attributions, risk flags based on behavioral typologies, identification of hidden connections across blockchain ecosystems, and plain-language summaries of smart contracts.

Technology

AI classification: Classical / predictive MLSource: Classical/Predictive Machine Learning: Models trained on data to make predictions or classifications based on identified patterns or relatio…
System name(s): Not reported
Custom-developed code: No
Public source code: Not reported

Sourcing

How it was built: Purchased from vendorSource: a) Purchased from a vendor
Vendor (as reported): TRM Labs
Vendors (standardized): TRM Labs

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII: No
Privacy Impact Assessment: Not reported
Authorization to Operate: No
Demographic features: Not reported
Training and evaluation data: The platform uses vendor AI models trained and tested on public blockchain ledger data (public/external), as well as proprietary data, internal attribution and scoring data, behavioral data, network data, and synthetic data.
Federal Data Catalog: Not reported

Governance

0 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Pre-deployment testingNo answer reported

AI impact assessmentNo answer reported

Independent reviewNo answer reported

Ongoing monitoringNo answer reported

Operator trainingNo answer reported

Fail-safeNo answer reported

Appeal processNo answer reported

User and public consultationNo answer reported

Potential impacts and how they were identified

Not reported