The FBI is on the hunt for drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition technology, sparking concerns over mass surveillance and erosion of civil liberties. In a request for information posted Thursday, federal agencies are looking to vendors who can provide AI and machine learning solutions that enable drones to conduct tasks such as facial recognition, license plate scanning, and detecting weapons.
Civil libertarians warn that this technology is designed to infringe on the First Amendment rights of protesters and marginalized communities. "These technologies are not built to spy on a specific person under investigation," said Matthew Guariglia, a policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "They're meant for indiscriminate mass surveillance, leaving people who are involved in politics or activism even more vulnerable to state harassment."
Law enforcement agencies have increasingly turned to drone technology to combat crime and respond to emergencies, but their use of drones to surveil protesters raises significant concerns. In New York City, the NYPD's drone usage has skyrocketed without adequate oversight, according to a recent report by the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project.
The use of AI-enabled drones for facial recognition is particularly worrying. Guariglia warns that such technology can lead to "political retribution and harassment" against those who attend protests or engage in activities protected under the First Amendment. Moreover, the accuracy of these systems is often disputed, with criticisms over their ineffectiveness in detecting real threats.
Moreover, the use of AI-powered drones for detecting firearms could exacerbate standoffs between law enforcement and civilians. Guariglia notes that even when such technology claims to be effective, its limitations can lead to false positives, prompting a rapid response from police that may end in violence.
The implications of this technology are far-reaching, with some arguing that it represents the full-scale takeover of American democracy by authoritarian forces under President Trump. The Intercept's coverage has long highlighted concerns over autocratic tendencies and billionaire oligarchs' influence on US politics.
Civil libertarians warn that this technology is designed to infringe on the First Amendment rights of protesters and marginalized communities. "These technologies are not built to spy on a specific person under investigation," said Matthew Guariglia, a policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "They're meant for indiscriminate mass surveillance, leaving people who are involved in politics or activism even more vulnerable to state harassment."
Law enforcement agencies have increasingly turned to drone technology to combat crime and respond to emergencies, but their use of drones to surveil protesters raises significant concerns. In New York City, the NYPD's drone usage has skyrocketed without adequate oversight, according to a recent report by the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project.
The use of AI-enabled drones for facial recognition is particularly worrying. Guariglia warns that such technology can lead to "political retribution and harassment" against those who attend protests or engage in activities protected under the First Amendment. Moreover, the accuracy of these systems is often disputed, with criticisms over their ineffectiveness in detecting real threats.
Moreover, the use of AI-powered drones for detecting firearms could exacerbate standoffs between law enforcement and civilians. Guariglia notes that even when such technology claims to be effective, its limitations can lead to false positives, prompting a rapid response from police that may end in violence.
The implications of this technology are far-reaching, with some arguing that it represents the full-scale takeover of American democracy by authoritarian forces under President Trump. The Intercept's coverage has long highlighted concerns over autocratic tendencies and billionaire oligarchs' influence on US politics.
This AI-powered drone thingy is giving me the creeps. I mean, who needs that kinda surveillance? 
It's like something outta a sci-fi movie where the gov's just watching you all the time. Like, can't we still have some freedom to protest or just chill without being watched 24/7? 
I'm all for keeping the streets safe, but we gotta be careful about when and where we use this tech.
They're already vulnerable enough, no need to add more stress. The gov should be worried about how people feel, not just about catching bad guys. 
We gotta have a balance here, right? 
I mean, can you imagine being at a protest or rally and having your face scanned without even knowing why? It's like something out of a sci-fi movie, but unfortunately, it's happening in real life. I'm all for law enforcement using drones to keep us safe, but not when they're used to spy on innocent people exercising their rights.
That's just crazy talk. We need stricter regulations on this tech, stat! AI-powered drones can lead to false positives and even violence, especially if they think someone is a threat when they're not. It's like playing a game of "target practice" with civilians.
... its like they think we're all just gonna chill while they fly around scanning our faces and taking pics of us protesting 
... what's next they gonna start tracking our every move with these AI drones? 
... newsflash: if you're exercising your 1st amendment rights, that's not a reason for mass surveillance, thats just basic human rights protection 
... and btw, who exactly is approving this tech? 
... we need stricter regulations ASAP to prevent this dystopian nightmare from becoming a reality 
️...
, but now they're being used to spy on people in the streets. I'm not sure about this new AI facial recognition tech, it's just too sci-fi for my taste 
. I mean, what's next? Robots patrolling our streets like something out of Blade Runner? 
. Just because we've got more tech now doesn't mean we're safe from government snooping.
. And what's with the accuracy rate? It's like trying to read a map while driving – you're bound to make mistakes 
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mass surveillance is a major concern, especially for protesters & marginalized communities. this tech is meant to watch ppl indiscriminately, not just spys on a specific person 
the impact on American democracy shouldnt be underestimated 
! I mean, I get it, law enforcement needs tech to keep us safe, but this is getting too Big Brother for me 
. And what's with the whole 'mass surveillance' vibe? It feels like they're setting up a way to keep an eye on anyone who dares to speak out or protest 
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. I mean, we're already living in a world where our online lives are under scrutiny, do we really need more government monitoring? 
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. I mean, what's next? Robots patrolling the streets? It's like they're taking away our rights one surveillance system at a time 
. And to think they're using this tech on protesters and marginalized communities... that's just not right 
. We need some serious oversight here 
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The gov't needs to be more transparent about how these drones are being used & who has access to this tech 
#StopMassSurveillance #ProtectOurRights #TechForThePeople
. I mean, who's to say that these drones won't be used to silence dissenting voices or target specific groups? It's like something out of a dystopian novel 
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. We can't let our government become too powerful, no matter how 'secure' they claim it is 
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...
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It just doesn't sit right with me.
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. now they're saying it's for "public safety" but I'm calling foul 
. what's next? drones doing our taxes for us? 
. how can we trust that these things are gonna be used for good and not just to spy on the little guy? 
. no way, Jose