Leaked reports show US agencies tracking “anti-tech extremism”

In short: Documents obtained by WIRED suggest US law enforcement is increasingly treating “anti-technology extremism” as a national security concern.

What's going on

WIRED reports that it obtained more than 1,000 pages of unpublished documents from the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and state and local “fusion centers” (information-sharing hubs set up after 9/11). The documents show agencies paying closer attention to people and groups seen as strongly opposed to AI and data centers.

Some reports use new terms like “anti-tech violent extremism.” A New York Police Department intelligence report warned that rapid AI adoption could lead to large protests that might turn into unrest, especially in big cities. The report also discussed fears spreading after the arrest and trial of Ziz Laota, who allegedly led a small group tied to an ideology focused on the risk that AI could become dangerously powerful.

Fusion centers also circulated reports about possible threats to data centers, which are large buildings filled with computers (like warehouses for the internet). Some “suspicious activity” indicators listed in one report included things like photography and observing security, actions that can also be part of peaceful protest, legal experts told WIRED.

The documents also describe monitoring of in-person meetings and demonstrations, including local budget and school board meetings where residents have criticized data center construction. WIRED also reports that private firms that monitor online posts for law enforcement customers, including SITE Intelligence, have circulated bulletins about anti-tech sentiment.

What to watch

The key question is how broadly “anti-tech extremism” gets defined. Critics warn the label could pull in lawful protest and speech, like treating normal civic activism as a warning sign (like putting a wide net in the water and catching more than just the fish you were looking for).

Source: Wired