U.S. Accused of Using AI Tools to Target Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators

U.S. Accused of Using AI Tools to Target Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators
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Amnesty International has accused U.S. authorities of using artificial intelligence technologies—specifically from companies like Palantir and Babel Street—to surveil immigrant protesters at pro-Palestinian demonstrations and potentially subject them to deportation, France 24 reported.

A review of Department of Homeland Security records revealed that these AI systems enable mass surveillance, focusing particularly on foreign nationals. The systems are believed to facilitate a “Catch and Revoke” strategy, monitoring social media, visa statuses, and news reports of protests—especially those critical of Israeli policy or supportive of Palestinian causes.

Advocates warn this trend risks chilling free expression and disproportionately targeting international students and noncitizens. Privacy and civil rights groups argue that AI cannot reliably interpret the nuances of political discourse, raising serious concerns about wrongful identification and visa revocation.

This surveillance approach aligns with earlier executive orders and immigration enforcement actions. In parallel, private campus groups have reportedly used facial recognition technology to identify masked protestors—efforts that intersect with government systems and blur boundaries between public policing and private monitoring.