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Three labor organizations have taken the government of Donald Trump to court for using artificial intelligence to spy on the social media of visa-holding immigrants and penalizing their opinions that oppose official policies, which they describe as a form of ideological repression.
According to a report by the agency EFE from New York, the United Auto Workers (UAW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have filed a lawsuit against the Departments of State and Homeland Security.
The legal action was filed with the support of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), an organization representing the plaintiffs, which argues that this is the first lawsuit of its kind in the United States.
The document exposes that the government program uses automated technologies, including artificial intelligence, to track the posts of individuals with visas, with the aim of identifying and punishing those who express opinions that are not favored by the authorities.
They claim that this digital monitoring occurs alongside a public intimidation campaign, resulting in the silence or self-censorship of those who are under surveillance.
The lawsuit requests a judge in New York to immediately halt this program, arguing that it has instilled fear among immigrants and citizens, and has impacted the ability of unions to organize and communicate with their members and potential affiliates.
A survey cited by the plaintiffs revealed that 80% of UAW members with knowledge of the program changed their behavior on social media. In the case of the CWA, the figure reached 40%, highlighting the direct impact on freedom of expression and association.
Lisa Femia, an attorney for EFF, warned about the extent of state monitoring enabled by AI. “The scale of this spying is matched by an equally chilling and massive effect on freedom of expression,” she stated in comments reported by the media.
The use of artificial intelligence by the Donald Trump administration to monitor social media has sparked a wave of concern among unions, activists, and civil rights organizations.
ICE has invested over $1.4 billion in surveillance technology, including facial recognition systems, mobile device tracking, and automated analysis of digital content.
These tools allow for the identification and real-time tracking of individuals considered of interest, without the need for effective judicial oversight.
The strategy includes a constant monitoring program on platforms such as Facebook, X, TikTok, or Reddit. ICE confirmed that it spies on social media 24/7, gathering everything from photos and messages to geolocation data.
According to the agency, the goal is to detect security threats, but digital rights advocates warn that the program enables the mass collection of data from millions of people, many of whom have no criminal record, which could undermine basic constitutional rights.
At the same time, there has been documented direct government pressure on large tech companies. Apple and Google succumbed to Trump's government by removing from their platforms applications that alerted users about ICE operations, such as ICEBlock, used by migrant communities for protection against raids.
The decision was criticized as a form of digital censorship serving the powers that be, raising concerns about the role of big tech companies in silencing critical voices under the guise of national security.
Recently, the United States Department of State announced the revocation of visas for several foreigners who publicly celebrated or justified the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Frequently Asked Questions about ideological surveillance and the lawsuit against the Trump administration
Why did the unions sue the Trump administration?
The unions sued the Trump administration over the use of artificial intelligence to spy on the social media of visa-holding immigrants and to penalize opinions that oppose official policies. They accuse the government of conducting "ideological surveillance" that represses freedom of expression and association. This digital monitoring has instilled fear among immigrants and citizens, impacting the unions' ability to communicate with their members.
What technologies does the Trump administration use for social media monitoring?
The Trump administration has invested more than $1.4 billion in surveillance technology, including facial recognition systems, mobile device tracking, and automated analysis of digital content. These tools allow for monitoring social networks 24 hours a day, collecting photos, messages, and geolocation data. The monitoring strategy aims to detect security threats, although digital rights advocates warn of possible violations of constitutional rights.
What has been the reaction of tech companies to government pressure?
Under governmental pressure, technology companies like Apple and Google have removed applications that alerted users about ICE operations, such as ICEBlock, which were used by migrant communities to protect themselves from raids. This action has been criticized as a form of digital censorship serving those in power, raising concerns about the role of these companies in silencing critical voices under the pretext of national security.
What consequences has the social media surveillance program had for immigrant communities?
The surveillance program has led to a change in behavior on social media among visa-holding immigrants, with 80% of UAW affiliates and 40% of CWA members altering their use of the platforms. This monitoring has created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, resulting in silence or self-censorship from those who are under surveillance, negatively impacting freedom of expression and association.
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