With ICE set to shell out up to $20 million for shock gloves, the tech behind these non-lethal devices is unveiled. Dubbed GLOVE (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) by Compliant Technologies, they’re designed to subdue through painful electrical pulses without causing burns or marks.

Activating via a wrist switch, the gloves deliver high-frequency pulses that overstimulate nerve endings, inducing localized pain which supposedly promotes compliance within seconds. However, their effectiveness is limited; they require direct bare skin contact and are ineffective through dry clothing but work better on wet fabrics.

The gloves, available in three generations with varying voltages and a maximum usage time of two hours, come equipped with recording mechanisms to track their use for audits. ICE must be cautious, limiting their deployment to specific limbs and avoiding sensitive areas like the head or groin. Misuse concerns abound as critics argue that such technology is inherently abusive.

Michael Crowley from Omega Research Foundation warns against the abuse of these tools: “CD3 technology inflicts pain,” he notes. “It’s not about de-escalation, but control through suffering.”