Police Deploy AI Bots to Infiltrate College Protests, Reports Say

American police departments, particularly near the US-Mexico border, are purchasing and deploying a secretive AI tool called Overwatch, developed by Massive Blue, to infiltrate online groups and collect intelligence on a range of targets including college protesters, political activists, and suspected traffickers. Overwatch uses lifelike AI-generated personas—such as a 'radicalized protester' or a 'honeypot'—to engage with individuals over text and social media, aiming to gather evidence and disrupt criminal networks. Despite the significant investment, there is little evidence the technology has led to arrests, raising concerns about its effectiveness and the ethics of surveilling protest groups. The tool is marketed for purposes like border security and school safety but has drawn scrutiny for its use against groups involved in political activism, especially amid heightened tensions around student protests. Internal presentations reveal the AI personas are tailored with detailed backstories to appear credible and gain trust online. The increasing use of such technology underscores growing debates over privacy, civil liberties, and the expanding role of AI in law enforcement surveillance.