The Equalists in the TV show the Legend of Korra are anti-establishment militants who sometimes wear electrified gloves, in part to counteract the perceived unfair advantages of their adversaries. The Equalists are villains, but like many well-written villains, theyâre hard to hate.

According to a new report from the Associated Press, ICE will soon receive an almost identical weapon, the Compliant Technologies Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter or G.L.O.V.E., from a company called ~~Omni Consumer Products~~âoops I mean Compliant Technologies.

Judging from marketing materials posted online by Peacekeeper Products International, which sells the G.L.O.V.E., these devices donât seem like theyâre for well-written villains. They seem like theyâre for making already captive people fall to the ground and become more docile.

Indeed, according to a source who spoke to Fox, John Peters, president of a law enforcement training firm called the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, the device is already in use at jails and police stations. “If the officer is getting any type of resistance from the person, this is certainly an effective tool,” Peters told Fox.

An acquisition notice posted by the Department of Homeland Security, on Monday, says ICE âhas a requirement to purchaseâ the Compliance Technologies G5 G.L.O.V.E. ICE must issue them to agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). The estimated cost of the acquisition is $10-20 million.

According to the productâs user manual, which has been archived by 404 Media, âThe G.L.O.V.E. is a Force Multiplier for officers operating within their agencyâs current Force Continuum or Force Options.â Once the device is powered on, contact with the electrodes delivers a shock, with no trigger or activation button involved in the process. To test if itâs working, the user can simply perform a âTap Testâ: In other words, tap the electrode and âA slight electrical charge will be perceived by the user, confirming the device is functioning.â Sounds pretty simple.

The manual discourages use of the product on children, the elderly, pregnant women, and âseverely handicappedâ people. It also lists several medical conditionsâmostly heart-related onesâthat it says could be associated with âsudden death.â

The ICE website says there have been 34 detainee deaths in the fiscal year 2026 so far, and that there were 24 in FY 2025. In FY 2024, ICE says there were 12, and in FY 2023 there were apparently four.