The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently delivered a groundbreaking digital forensic tool to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this year. In this guest post, hear from S&T Forensics & Criminal Investigation Program Manager Alex Banks about the leadership and vision that were instrumental in bringing StreamView from concept into the hands of law enforcement agents.
In 2019, something big started quietly taking shape behind the scenes at S&T. In response to a Call to Action Memo to Combat Live-Stream Child Sexual Exploitation, two powerhouses—S&T and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Innovation Lab (IL)—joined forces with a single goal: to fight human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and transnational crime faster and smarter.
The result? StreamView—technology that has been quietly saving lives and dismantling criminal networks ever since.
What Is StreamView, Anyway?
StreamView is no ordinary tool. Built as a human-in-the-loop artificial intelligence and machine learning and analytics triage capability, it was specifically designed to handle one of the most complex and dynamic types of data investigators face today: livestream communications.
These data sources are messy—unstructured, fragmented, and massive in volume. That makes it incredibly difficult for investigators to quickly parse through and pinpoint criminal behavior, especially when time is critical, and lives are at stake.
That’s where StreamView excels. It ingests, normalizes, and organizes disparate livestream data, enabling investigators to:
- Identify prolific and high-risk actors
- Cross-reference identifiers across datasets
- Establish criminal intent
- Export critical data for investigative and legal use
Think of it as a smart digital assistant for investigators—working behind the scenes to uncover the most vital clues buried in mountains of raw data.
Real-World Results: Lives Saved, Networks Dismantled
Even in its prototype phase, StreamView made a powerful impact.
Since 2021, it has been deployed at two key HSI field offices, where it has helped achieve:
- 133 child and adult victims rescued
- 124 traffickers and buyers arrested
- Over 600 leads and referrals generated
- 29 criminal networks dismantled
Two field offices. One prototype tool. Over a hundred lives saved. That’s not just innovation—it’s real-world impact.
From Prototype to Nationwide Powerhouse
The success of StreamView did not go unnoticed. In January 2025, the tool was successfully transitioned into the HSI IL operational environment. After further assessment in March, the IL determined that relocating StreamView to the Cyber Crimes Center operational environment would significantly enhance support for law enforcement operations. The transition is actively underway and firmly on track for completion by late May. Field offices across the country will now have access to this capability—marking a major leap forward in the ongoing fight against transnational crime and human trafficking.
With national rollout underway, the anticipated impact will only grow: more cases solved, more criminal networks disrupted, and—most importantly—more lives saved.
This achievement is a shining example of what’s possible when cross-agency collaboration meets cutting-edge innovation.
Why This Matters
StreamView isn’t just a technology—it’s a mission-driven capability that demonstrates how smart, agile tools can help tackle today’s most urgent criminal threats. By equipping agents with powerful ways to analyze complex data in real time, DHS is driving proactive, life-saving outcomes.
It also proves that S&T and HSI Innovation Lab aren’t waiting for problems to escalate—we’re getting ahead of them.
Want to Learn More?
S&T’s Program Manager Shane Cullen and Forensics Subject Matter Expert Patricia Wolfhope both played a critical role in early-stage coordination and development with HSI. S&T team members Teresa Burt and Ronald Maugans also played a vital role in shaping the technical and strategic development of StreamView through their expertise and dedication.
Listen to our two-part Technologically Speaking podcast conversation where Patty and Shane discuss StreamView’s origins and mission in Pain That Hurts and Pain That Alters and Keeping Criminals Up at Night. The episodes highlight the program’s vision, evolution, and the critical role it plays in the fight against human trafficking and transnational crime.