The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) company has been utilizing an AI-powered software known as Large Oak Search Expertise (GOST) to scan visa candidates’ social media posts since 2014, in keeping with paperwork obtained via a Freedom of Info Act motion.
In keeping with an Oct. 27 TechSpot report, the system offers candidates a “social media rating” from 1-100 primarily based on whether or not their posts are deemed “derogatory” in the direction of the USA. ICE analysts can then assessment flagged pictures and profiles to find out if candidates are a danger.
ICE has paid Large Oak over $10 million since 2017 for the expertise, which additionally has contracts with the DEA, Air Power, State Division, and Treasury Division. Privateness advocates argue such a AI screening raises important civil liberties points.
Ought to the federal government use algorithms to look social media to find out who’s “dangerous?”
“The federal government shouldn’t be utilizing algorithms to scrutinize our social media posts and determine which of us is ‘dangerous,’” stated Patrick Toomey deputy director of the ACLU’s nationwide safety challenge. “DHS wants to elucidate to the general public how its techniques decide whether or not somebody is a danger or not, and what occurs to the individuals whose on-line posts are flagged by its algorithms.”
The social media surveillance program began as a 2016 pilot focusing on potential visa overstayers. That very same yr, the Trump administration carried out 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 nations or backgrounds extra more likely to be flagged by automated techniques. In 2019, a Harvard scholar was denied entry to the U.S. due to buddies’ social media exercise.
In keeping with the data, ICE’s contract with Large Oak resulted in 2022. Nonetheless, the apply 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 defend civil liberties.
Featured Picture Credit score: Picture by Karolina Grabowska; Pexels; Thanks!
