This past weekend, a startling report emerged accusing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of investigating the social media accounts of millions of Americans. Groups on the left have labeled this an “attack on democracy and free speech,” suggesting it represents a serious infringement on American rights.
But, perhaps, there’s more to the story than what’s being reported.
Problem
The report from The Verge indicates that ICE has teamed up with Zignal Labs, a group that uses AI for social media monitoring, to analyze posts from regular Americans as part of its surveillance efforts. The platform is capable of scanning posts in 100 languages, analyzing images and videos for geolocation, and even access weather data through a partnership with NOAA.
If you do something illegal and post it online, you have provided evidence to prosecute a crime.
The capability to analyze up to 8 billion posts daily raises serious questions about privacy and free speech, echoing concerns about the sanctity of the Constitution. But what’s the actual aim? Will Owen, director of communications for the Surveillance Technology Surveillance Project, claims it’s to “terrify immigrant families” and “target activists” opposing abuses against immigrants.
If that’s accurate, it’s quite a troubling allegation. Yet, some of Owen’s assertions lack clarity.
Detail
First off, ICE doesn’t focus on “immigrant families.” Legal citizens or those here on valid visas don’t face scrutiny from ICE. The agency is searching for illegal immigrants who violate U.S. laws, who are then rightly subject to deportation. Owen’s claim falls short here.
Second, when he mentions “targeted activists,” those individuals are often “mostly peaceful” protesters who, it seems, have instigated violence across the country. A recent incident involved anti-ICE protesters using a U-Haul in an attempt to harm individuals at a Coast Guard base in Alameda, California. Or maybe you recall the shooting at an ICE facility in Texas? It’s also worth mentioning the rising tensions in Chicago and calls for violence related to ICE operations generally. These “activists” sound less like advocates for rights and more like individuals breaking the law. So, Owen could be presenting a skewed view.
However, The Verge does touch on a reality: social media surveillance isn’t something novel. In fact, it’s been used politically for a long time. The Biden administration seemed to favor this approach too. Unlike ICE, which (allegedly) capitalizes on social media to tackle illegal immigration, previous administrations have sometimes targeted regular Americans instead.
Truth
Surprisingly, social media isn’t exactly a private domain. It’s more of a public forum filled with comments, videos, and images. When you post something online, you’re essentially sharing it with everyone, and various parties take advantage of this. Facebook, for instance, can use your posts for targeted advertising. Large language models that drive AI learn from public data to improve their responses. Law enforcement, of course, can monitor public activities and take legal action against wrongdoing. These activities generally fall within fair use.
So, if actions are taken in a public space that are unlawful, consequences might follow. If someone shares illegal activities online, they’re exposing themselves to potential legal repercussions. The same goes for illegal aliens who commit offenses simply by remaining in the country without proper documentation. With a bit of information or visual proof, authorities can pursue necessary actions.
Final Thoughts
While undocumented immigrants should not expect the same rights as citizens, they must adhere to the law. Engaging in illegal activities in public is not justifiable, and doing so online poses additional risks. If someone commits a crime and shares it online, they’ve inadvertently provided evidence for prosecution. Generally, it’s wise for anyone, especially undocumented immigrants, to think twice before posting about illegal conduct online.
