In recent years, concerns about government involvement in content moderation on social media platforms have been on the rise. Revelations of collaboration between federal agencies and tech giants have raised questions about the extent of surveillance and censorship in the digital space. With the development of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools, the government’s role in monitoring and influencing online discourse has come under scrutiny. In this article, we explore the implications of these partnerships and their potential impact on freedom of speech and privacy.
DARPA’s pursuit of information control
In 2021, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a Pentagon-affiliated research agency, sought proposals for AI tools aimed at understanding how authoritarian regimes repress their populations online. While this endeavor ostensibly aimed to shed light on digital repression worldwide, it explicitly excluded examining the activities of the United States government itself. This selective approach has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to democratic values.
The hypocrisy of criticism
Criticism of foreign governments for suppressing civil liberties and dissent often contrasts with the lack of public discussion about similar actions taken by the U.S. government. American officials frequently profess moral superiority in upholding democratic values, even as they erode them at home. This hypocrisy highlights the need for a more honest conversation about the government’s involvement in digital information control.
A Quiet Partnership: government and Private organizations
For decades, federal agencies, including the Pentagon, have quietly collaborated with private organizations to develop powerful surveillance and intervention tools for monitoring and influencing social media narratives. One notable example is the 2021 Pentagon program, Civil Sanctuary, which aimed to create AI tools to scale up the moderation capabilities of social media platforms. The program’s goal was to enhance the government’s ability to coordinate online speech censorship.
Millions of taxpayer dollars have been invested in the development of these tools, intended not only for social media companies but also for use by the intelligence community and law enforcement agencies. This raises concerns about the potential misuse of AI surveillance technology and its implications for privacy and free expression.
Building trust in AI: DOC’s million-dollar grants
While the government invests in AI surveillance, the Department of Commerce (DOC) is simultaneously awarding million-dollar grants for cognitive research focused on fostering public trust in AI. This paradoxical approach raises questions about the government’s intentions and the disconnect between its actions and its stated goals.
Revelations of coordination: The Twitter files
Journalists have exposed deep coordination between federal agencies and social media platforms regarding content moderation decisions and the policing of American speech. These revelations have shed light on the extent to which the government influences online discourse.
The First Amendment challenge
Recently, the Fifth Circuit Court affirmed that the government likely violated the First Amendment by pressuring social media companies to remove content it disagreed with. Examples included topics related to COVID-19 origins, pandemic lockdowns, vaccine efficacy, and the Hunter Biden laptop story. The court highlighted government demands for stronger COVID misinformation monitoring, algorithm modifications, and amplification of trusted sources. These actions raise significant concerns about the infringement of free speech rights.
The threat beyond AI
As journalist Michael Shellenberger aptly points out, the real threat to civil liberties doesn’t come from AI itself but from those who seek to control and use it for censorship. The government’s increasing involvement in shaping online discourse raises concerns about the erosion of democratic values and the potential suppression of dissenting voices.
The government’s collaboration with social media platforms and its investment in AI surveillance tools pose significant challenges to free speech and privacy in the digital age. While the government claims to combat digital repression globally, it must also address its own actions and their implications for democratic values. As we continue to uncover the extent of government involvement in content moderation, it is crucial to maintain a vigilant eye on the balance between security and individual freedoms in the digital realm.
