US universities have been quietly using counterterror intelligence-sharing hubs to surveil pro-Palestine students. These fusion centers, designed to facilitate information sharing between local, state, and federal agencies, have become a tool for law enforcement agencies to monitor and suppress First Amendment activities.
Documents obtained by The Intercept reveal that at least five US universities have been actively monitoring pro-Palestine demonstrations on their campuses. Ohio State University, Clemson University, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, and others have all used fusion centers to facilitate briefings, intelligence sharing, and coordination with federal law enforcement agencies.
The networks of these fusion centers have been widely criticized for infringing on civil rights, including the right to free speech. "Fusion centers have also come under fire for sharing dubious intelligence and escalating local police responses to BLM," said Rory Mir, associate director of community organizing at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
At Ohio State University, officials quickly assembled an operations plan after receiving a warning from the state's counterterrorism hub about an upcoming pro-Palestine demonstration. The university's police department worked with the FBI and other agencies to shut down the event, arresting 36 demonstrators.
A similar situation unfolded at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where the university president used funds for natural disasters to pay outside law enforcement officers to clear an occupied building. The university had also tracked the IP and account user information of students who were using WiFi in a targeted way.
Critics argue that these fusion centers have created a culture of surveillance and repression on campuses, with universities knowingly feeding more information into these systems to target students. "The pro-Palestine movement really does face a crisis of repression," said Tariq Kenney-Shawa, Al-Shabaka's U.S. policy fellow.
In response, some university administrators have pushed back against the use of fusion centers on campus. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has warned that universities should be wary about unleashing federal surveillance at their schools due to the reputation of these centers for infringing on civil rights.
Documents obtained by The Intercept reveal that at least five US universities have been actively monitoring pro-Palestine demonstrations on their campuses. Ohio State University, Clemson University, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, and others have all used fusion centers to facilitate briefings, intelligence sharing, and coordination with federal law enforcement agencies.
The networks of these fusion centers have been widely criticized for infringing on civil rights, including the right to free speech. "Fusion centers have also come under fire for sharing dubious intelligence and escalating local police responses to BLM," said Rory Mir, associate director of community organizing at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
At Ohio State University, officials quickly assembled an operations plan after receiving a warning from the state's counterterrorism hub about an upcoming pro-Palestine demonstration. The university's police department worked with the FBI and other agencies to shut down the event, arresting 36 demonstrators.
A similar situation unfolded at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where the university president used funds for natural disasters to pay outside law enforcement officers to clear an occupied building. The university had also tracked the IP and account user information of students who were using WiFi in a targeted way.
Critics argue that these fusion centers have created a culture of surveillance and repression on campuses, with universities knowingly feeding more information into these systems to target students. "The pro-Palestine movement really does face a crisis of repression," said Tariq Kenney-Shawa, Al-Shabaka's U.S. policy fellow.
In response, some university administrators have pushed back against the use of fusion centers on campus. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has warned that universities should be wary about unleashing federal surveillance at their schools due to the reputation of these centers for infringing on civil rights.
OMG u guys!! This is like totally crazy!! US universities using fusion centers 2 surveil pro-Palestine students?! Like, what's next?! They're supposed 2 be places 4 learning n not 4 spying! 
The fact that they're sharing info w/ law enforcement agencies 2 monitor students' speech & activities is like totally a red flag 
. I mean, shouldn't we b protecting free speech & civil rights, not suppressin it?! This is soooo concerning 
these universities think they can just use fusion centers as a excuse to surveil and stifle free speech? newsflash: we're adults, not kids who need babysitting 
at least 5 campuses have been caught red-handed using these centers to monitor pro-Palestine students. what's next? surveillance on climate change activists or anti-fracking protesters? 
it's like they think the first amendment is optional 
. Like, how can US universities just allow this to happen? These fusion centers are basically a tool for law enforcement to spy on students and silence dissenting voices. It's like they think the First Amendment doesn't apply to people who disagree with them 
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Like, what's next? Will they start monitoring pro-Black Lives Matter students too? It seems crazy that universities are using fusion centers to spy on students exercising their First Amendment rights. The idea that law enforcement can just shut down a protest and arrest people is just so concerning 
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Can you believe it? US universities are basically running their own secret police forces 
. I mean, what's next? They're gonna start monitoring students' pizza orders too 
. But seriously, this is super concerning. Like, shouldn't they be focusing on academics and stuff instead of snooping around pro-Palestine students? 
And 36 people get arrested for a protest? That's just wild 
. Anyway, hope these universities start being more chill about surveillance and free speech 
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these fusion centers are basically law enforcement's way of monitoring and suppressing First Amendment activities, which is a major no-no 
and it's not like they're hiding anything... or are they? 
and it's not like there aren't enough laws already in place to protect students' rights we need to keep an eye on this and make sure our universities are holding accountable for their actions 
i mean idk if you've seen those vids of students getting arrested at protests but like thats NOT OKAY 1A rights are 1A people need to stand up for what they believe in & not be silenced cuz of some counterterror hub 
I don't know how people afford those... anyway back to this news, it sounds super sketchy that they're using fusion centers to spy on pro-Palestine students on campus. Like what if you were just expressing your opinion and getting shut down? That's not cool at all... I guess the gov is trying to keep things in check but sometimes I feel like we gotta be careful about giving up our freedoms