Amnesty International has accused US authorities of using artificial intelligence tools to monitor and target immigrants and non-citizens participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The rights group highlighted the use of software provided by Palantir and Babel Street to conduct mass surveillance across the country.
A review of public records, including documents from the Department of Homeland Security, revealed that these AI systems allow authorities to track and assess individuals, often focusing on people who are not US citizens. Amnesty called this practice invasive and discriminatory.
Erika Guevara-Rosas of Amnesty International stated that the AI-powered monitoring contributes to unlawful detentions and mass deportations. She said it creates fear among migrant communities and international students, limiting their ability to freely express support for Palestine without facing repercussions.
The research revealed that the United States is employing these AI tools under the “Catch and Revoke” initiative. This program tracks visa holders, foreign students, and asylum seekers while monitoring social media activity and generating automated threat assessments, according to Amnesty.
Amnesty also criticized companies supplying the technology. Guevara-Rosas said Palantir and Babel Street play a central role in enabling repressive policies and urged them to reconsider their contracts with the US government to prevent human rights violations.
The report warned that these AI tools could strengthen President Donald Trump’s ability to deport marginalized people arbitrarily. Campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza have been labeled antisemitic, leading to foreign students and scholars facing potential expulsion, intensifying political tensions in universities.