- DHS has approved Helix surveillance platform for use by Secret Service - USSS conducted a privacy impact assessment to compare privacy risks versus advantages of the platform - DHS has reported a decrease in PIA releases in 2026, despite being a prerequisite for deploying surveillance technology The Department of Homeland Security has approved a new Secret Service surveillance platform even as the agency’s broader pace of privacy impact assessments has slowed significantly this year, FedScoop reported Friday. The system, known as Helix, pulls together video feeds, facial recognition capabilities and license plate reader data drawn from cameras at protected sites and existing image databases. The platform is used by Secret Service personnel to watch for potential threats near sensitive locations, including the White House complex and the area surrounding the Capitol. Don’t miss your chance to sit down with DHS leadership as the department navigates a record 65-percent budget boost and reshapes its artificial intelligence, cyber and border security priorities. Save your seat at the 2026 Homeland Security Summit on November 10, when top agency voices and industry leaders will map out exactly where the next wave of opportunity is headed. Why Was the PIA for the Helix Platform Necessary? In its privacy impact assessment, the Secret Service explained that Helix’s ability to link identifiable information — including video imagery, facial data, biometric templates, and license plate numbers tied to time and location — created a greater privacy risk than any of the underlying data sources posed on their own, making a formal review necessary. A Secret Service spokesperson characterized Helix as part of the agency’s ongoing modernization efforts rather than an entirely new capability, though the agency declined to specify when the platform was first put into use, citing operational security around its protective mission. What Do Privacy