The US State Department is reportedly launching a program, dubbed “Catch and Revoke,” utilizing AI systems to scrutinize news reports and social media activity of foreign students on visas in the United States. The objective is to identify individuals expressing pro-Palestinian or Hamas sympathies and subsequently revoke their visas.
This initiative, reported by Axios, will leverage an unspecified AI system to analyze protest footage, news reports, and the social media accounts of approximately 100,000 individuals within America’s Student Exchange Visitor System. The program is slated to commence on October 7, 2023. The State Department’s aim is to determine whether students involved in protests or those exhibiting alleged pro-Hamas leanings have faced repercussions deemed appropriate by the Trump administration. A State Department official quoted by Axios expressed concern over the perceived lack of visa revocations during the Biden administration, suggesting a “blind eye attitude toward law enforcement.”
This reliance on AI systems within the government is characteristic of the Trump administration. Similar AI-driven initiatives have been employed elsewhere, such as within the Department of Defense, reportedly under Elon Musk’s leadership, to identify areas for budget cuts and potential staff reductions. However, the current generation of large language models, while adept at data collection, often struggles with accurate analysis and interpretation. These systems are susceptible to biases inherent in their development and prone to producing “hallucinations” or false positives.
The Trump administration’s focus on policing speech, particularly regarding perceived support for Palestine, aligns with its broader political agenda. Following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in civilian casualties and kidnappings, the ensuing conflict and subsequent surge in pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses became a focal point for conservative politicians. Trump subsequently enacted executive orders aimed at addressing what he termed “antisemitism” on campuses.
These executive orders, however, have been criticized for their broad scope and potential to infringe on free speech. One such order targeted individuals “espousing hateful ideology” without providing a clear definition. Furthermore, the “Take it Down Act,” championed by the First Lady and ostensibly targeting revenge porn and deepfakes, has raised concerns among experts, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, regarding its potential for misuse in censoring dissent. Trump’s own remarks during a recent address to Congress hinted at such a possibility.
The combined implications of the “Take it Down Act” and the State Department’s AI-driven visa revocation program raise serious questions about the potential erosion of free speech and expression through surveillance technology. The use of AI to retroactively punish protesters, coupled with broadly defined executive orders targeting “hateful ideology,” creates a chilling effect on dissent and raises significant concerns about the future of civil liberties in the United States. These initiatives warrant careful scrutiny and public discourse to ensure the protection of fundamental freedoms.
