US Law Enforcement Warns of 'Anti-Tech Extremism' as AI Hatred Grows

In the wake of attacks on CEOs, a nationwide protest movement targeting data centers, and increasing concerns about AI job replacement, federal intelligence agencies and domestic law enforcement are circulating reports with a new domestic target in mind: anti-technology extremists. The reports, which total over 1,000 pages and were obtained by WIRED, reveal a national shift to surveil this new and worryingly broad category of people and activities deemed an emerging threat. This development has sparked concerns about the potential for overreach and abuse of power.

This new effort follows President Donald Trump's National Security Presidential Memo 7, which instructs the Department of Justice to target anyone holding "anti-American," "anti-Christian," and "anti-capitalism" beliefs. The memo has been criticized for its broad and vague language. Earlier this month, Trump's counterterrorism czar, Sebastian Gorka, released a public counterterrorism strategy claiming that left-wing extremists are one of the three top counterterrorism priorities facing the United States.

The strategy has been met with skepticism by some experts, who argue that it may be used to justify the targeting of legitimate dissent. The growing focus on 'anti-tech extremism' raises questions about the balance between national security and civil liberties. As the US government continues to grapple with the implications of emerging technologies like AI, it remains to be seen how this new category of extremism will be defined and policed.

The implications of this new effort are far-reaching, and critics are warning that it could have a chilling effect on free speech and dissent. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the US government's approach to 'anti-tech extremism' will have a profound impact on the future of technology and society.