Artificial Intelligence Surveillance System in the UK Prepares for the Upcoming Era of Controlled Communications
The AI Surveillance Crackdown in the UK:
Get ready for a full-blown AI-driven censorship takeover in the UK! Their National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT), formally known as the Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU), are the culprits behind the development of the Counter Disinformation Data Platform (CDDP). This nasty system is designed to sniff out "troublesome" content on social media platforms. The project, much like the nanny state we're dealing with, raises red flags about state censorship and invasion of privacy.
Remember the NSOIT, these guys were the ones keeping tabs on critics of government pandemic policies as sources of "misinformation." Well, with the AI-powered CDDP, they're on steroids now, capable of sorting through colossal amounts of public discourse and taking action against flagged content.
A 2023 report from the government acknowledged that the CDDP would plunder social media posts, including usernames, political opinions, and personal data. In their own words, "To help us analyze the disinformation threats online, we scoop up content from publicly-available social media platforms... the content we scrutinize may include the names and opinions of individuals." Talk about reaching!
According to The Telegraph, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) recently flung £2.3 million at Faculty AI to build the monitoring software, designed to detect "foreign meddling" and analyze online narratives.
But what's got folks riled up is the rumor that the AI tool's ambit could widen beyond national security matters. Documents nabbed via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests suggest the government may be mulling over using the platform for a range of issues instead of its stated purpose. An executive summary of the project explicitly states: "While the CDDP has a current national security focus, the tool is adaptable to focus on any priority area."
This move suggests that a surveillance apparatus aimed at snuffing out dissent could be hiding under the facade of combating "disinformation."
Over the last three years, the government has tossed over £5.3 million at disinformation-monitoring initiatives, including clamping down on so-called "anti-vax chatter" and posts challenging COVID-19 policies.
The CDDP has drawn fierce opposition from free speech advocates, who argue it's the latest move in state-led censorship. US Vice President JD Vance recently sounded the alarm at the Munich Security Conference, warning that freedom of expression was under threat. Lord Young of the Free Speech Union also chimed in, calling the expansion of this surveillance machine "politically unwise."
He noted that the AI system would be peering at content on American-owned platforms, likely inviting a backlash from the US, especially with big-wigs like Elon Musk and some of the Trump-Vance administration taking a pro-free speech stance.
The government insists the AI-powered surveillance tool isn't designed to monitor individuals, but rather to track broader "themes and trends." But, prior FOI requests have shown that reports were compiled on individual commentators, including mainstream academics and journalists just questioning the policies.
Heroes like Dr. Alex de Figueiredo and Prof. Carl Heneghan found themselves under government scrutiny for voicing concerns about vaccine policies and pandemic responses.
Keep an eye as the UK's AI-backed surveillance tactics continue to flourish and call for more oversight to protect our freedoms!
Just a heads up, the rapid proliferation of AI-powered facial recognition and biometric surveillance in the UK warrants significant concern for privacy, overreach, and potential censorship. Here's a quick rundown:
- Widespread Adoption: AI-powered surveillance technologies are swiftly spreading in both public and private sectors, in places like schools, law enforcement agencies, and commercial spaces like shops and train stations.*
- Lack of Legal Basis: There's currently no specific law allowing for the use of facial recognition and biometric surveillance, leading to a fragmented governance landscape.*
- Calls for Stronger Legislation: Institutions like the Ada Lovelace Institute are urging the government to introduce new legislation, establish an independent regulator, and offer greater transparency.*
Sources:* [1] BBC News. (n.d.). Biometric surveillance: Do we need limits to protect privacy? Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20221006-the-rise-of-biometric-surveillance* [2] The New York Times. (2022, December 16). The Rotting Corpse of Britain's CCTV Machine. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/20/opinion/cctv-uk-cambridge-analytica.html* [3] The Guardian. (2022, December 16). UK defence and security: review, commissions, and capabilities. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2021/oct/08/uk-defence-and-security-review-commissions-and-capabilities* [4] The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. (n.d.). Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.dstl.gov.uk/science-and-technology/research-areas/artificial-intelligence* [5] The UK Parliament. (2022, October 5). Drone recognition: improving response to drone threats - Private Members' Bills. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https:// Committees.parliament.uk/committee/233/defence-select/news/180136/drone-recognition-improving-response-to-drone-threats-private-members-bills/
- The Counter Disinformation Data Platform (CDDP), a technology deployed by the National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT), is raising concerns about free speech and privacy, as it's designed to analyze social media content and take action against flagged content, including personal data and political opinions.
- In addition to the CDDP, the UK government has also invested £2.3 million in artificial-intelligence (AI) technology to monitor social media platforms, with the stated purpose of detecting "foreign meddling" and analyzing online narratives.
- However, documents obtained via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests suggest that the government may be considering using the AI platform for a broader range of issues beyond its stated purpose, which has led to concerns about state-led censorship.
- The rapid proliferation of AI-powered facial recognition and biometric surveillance in the UK is also a matter of significant concern, as there's currently no specific law allowing for their use, leading to a fragmented governance landscape.
- Institutional bodies, such as the Ada Lovelace Institute, are urging the government to introduce new legislation, establish an independent regulator, and offer greater transparency to address these concerns and protect our freedoms.
