DHS Accused of Using AI Surveillance to Track and Threaten Legal Observers
Two women from Maine filed a lawsuit alleging that DHS agents threatened to add them to a domestic terrorist database and used AI-powered surveillance to track legal observers recording immigration enforcement operations. DHS denied the existence of such a database but acknowledged monitoring potential threats.
What happened
Two women from Maine filed a lawsuit alleging that Department of Homeland Security agents threatened to add them to a database of domestic terrorists because they were legally recording federal immigration enforcement operations.
In video evidence included in the lawsuit, a federal agent told one woman: 'we have a nice little database. And now you're considered a domestic terrorist, so have fun with that.' Another plaintiff was told 'if you keep coming to things like this, you are going to be on a domestic terrorist watch list. Then we're going to come to your house later tonight.'
The lawsuit alleges that DHS is using artificial intelligence to identify bystanders recording federal immigration enforcement operations and adding those people to a secret database.
Reported impact
The plaintiffs allege federal agents retaliated against them for exercising their First Amendment right to observe and protest federal immigration operations.
An organizer in Minneapolis reported that awareness of personal information tracking creates a sense of being monitored and watched by the federal government as a potential threat.
Index analysis
DHS is rapidly expanding use of AI-powered surveillance tools, including technology that scans faces, license plates and social media posts in real time.
Technology originally intended for tracking non-citizens is now being used to monitor U.S. citizens, including protesters and bystanders, without a warrant.
Governance controls
The Department of Homeland Security denied that any such database exists but stated the agency monitors and investigates any threats.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.