US Authorities Using AI-Powered Surveillance Tools to Target Non-Citizens and Suppress Pro-Palestine Expression

Amnesty International has reviewed documentation from the Department of Homeland Security's public records, and previously disclosed procurement and privacy assessment documents, showing that AI tools Babel X and Palantir's Immigration OS are being used to automate mass monitoring, surveillance, and assessments of people, often for the purpose of targeting non-US citizens. The research also exposes how these tools are being used to track migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, ultimately carrying a high risk of being used as part of the "Catch and Revoke" initiative.

Key Takeaways:

• The US government is deploying invasive AI-powered technologies to track and target international students and other marginalized migrant groups at an unprecedented scale and scope, leading to unlawful detentions and mass deportations.
• The AI tools supplied by Babel Street and Palantir, such as Babel X and ImmigrationOS, have automated capabilities that enable constant mass monitoring, surveillance, and assessments of people.
• The "Catch and Revoke" initiative combines social media monitoring, visa status tracking, and automated threat assessments of foreign individuals on visas, including international students.
• The AI tools supplied by Babel Street and Palantir can conduct pattern recognition and automate data analysis using algorithms, aggregating data from various public and private sources, including multiple government databases.
• The coercive "Catch and Revoke" initiative, facilitated by AI technologies, risks supercharging arbitrary and unlawful visa revocations, detentions, deportations, and violations of human rights, including the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information.
• Erika Guevara-Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns at Amnesty International, stated that the use of AI-powered technologies in the "Catch and Revoke" initiative poses a high risk of falsely framing pro-Palestine content as antisemitic, leading to discriminatory and biased outcomes.
• Prior to the current administration, 55 human rights groups and 54 technology experts wrote to the authorities to oppose the introduction of an automated "extreme vetting" system, citing concerns over its effectiveness and human rights implications.

Statistics:

• ICE and CBP currently host at least 80 AI projects.
• The "Catch and Revoke" initiative combines social media monitoring, visa status tracking, and automated threat assessments of foreign individuals on visas.
• The AI tools supplied by Babel Street and Palantir can conduct pattern recognition and automate data analysis using algorithms.
• According to the CBP website, ICE and CBP currently host at least 80 AI projects.
• 55 human rights groups and 54 technology experts wrote to the authorities to oppose the introduction of an automated "extreme vetting" system prior to the current administration.

Sources:

• Amnesty International -- The US authorities are using automated artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance tools to deliberately target non-US citizens and pose risks to those who speak out for Palestinian rights
• Babel Street -- AI-powered scanning of social media platforms for flagging "terrorism" related content
• Palantir -- Immigration OS, an AI-powered tool used for automated threat assessments of foreign individuals on visas
• US Department of Homeland Security -- Public records, procurement documents, contracts, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responses to previous requests by other organizations
• The CBP website -- Hosting at least 80 AI projects