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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) company has been utilizing an AI-powered device referred to as Large Oak Search Know-how (GOST) to scan visa candidates’ social media posts since 2014, in keeping with paperwork obtained by a Freedom of Data Act motion.
In response to an Oct. 27 TechSpot report, the system provides candidates a “social media rating” from 1-100 based mostly on whether or not their posts are deemed “derogatory” in the direction of the USA. ICE analysts can then evaluate flagged photographs and profiles to find out if candidates are a threat.
ICE has paid Large Oak over $10 million since 2017 for the expertise, which additionally has contracts with the DEA, Air Pressure, State Division, and Treasury Division. Privateness advocates argue the sort of AI screening raises vital civil liberties points.
Ought to the federal government use algorithms to go looking social media to find out who’s “dangerous?”
“The federal government shouldn’t be utilizing algorithms to scrutinize our social media posts and resolve which of us is ‘dangerous,’” stated Patrick Toomey deputy director of the ACLU’s nationwide safety mission. “DHS wants to clarify to the general public how its programs decide whether or not somebody is a threat or not, and what occurs to the folks whose on-line posts are flagged by its algorithms.”
The social media surveillance program began as a 2016 pilot concentrating on potential visa overstayers. That very same 12 months, the Trump administration applied guidelines requiring visa candidates to offer 5 years of social media historical past.
Consultants warn these practices may result in discrimination, with candidates from sure international locations or backgrounds extra more likely to be flagged by automated programs. In 2019, a Harvard scholar was denied entry to the U.S. due to pals’ social media exercise.
In response to the information, ICE’s contract with Large Oak resulted in 2022. Nonetheless, the observe of utilizing AI to evaluate candidates’ social media raises questions on privateness, accountability, and equity in immigration enforcement. Extra oversight is required to forestall abuse and shield civil liberties.
Featured Picture Credit score: Picture by Karolina Grabowska; Pexels; Thanks!
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