Image by Freepik
Police Use AI Bots to Pose As Trafficking Victims Online
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Police departments near the U.S.-Mexico border are deploying AI bots posing as civilians online to investigate crimes, sparking civil liberties concerns.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Bots pose as kids, sex workers, protesters, and criminals.
- Massive Blue sells Overwatch AI to Pinal County for $360,000.
- No arrests have been made yet, but detectives are pursuing leads.
According to an extensive report by 404 Media , U.S. police departments near the Mexico border are quietly using AI bots that pose as protesters, sex workers, children, and criminals in an effort to gather intelligence online.
The technology—called Overwatch—is being sold by a New York-based company named Massive Blue. 404 Media says that these bots are designed to trick suspects into revealing information via social media, text, or messaging apps.
404 Media obtained documents revealing that police departments use AI personas to track individuals suspected of human trafficking, drug dealing, and people labeled as “radicalized activists” and “college protesters.”
404 Media reports that the AI surveillance system by Massive Blue operates under a $360,000 contract with Pinal County, Arizona, funded by an anti-human trafficking grant. The agreement provides continuous surveillance and allows for up to 50 AI personas. Another county, Yuma, tested the system but declined to renew it, saying, “It did not meet our needs.”
The AI bots are shockingly detailed, as noted by 404 Media. For example, one character is “Jason,” a shy 14-year-old boy from Los Angeles who speaks Spanish and loves anime. In a scripted exchange, an adult asks him:
“Your parents around? Or you getting some awesome alone time.” “Js chillin by myself, man. My momz @ work n my dadz outta town,” Jason replies.
Another AI character is a 25-year-old Yemeni-American woman who speaks Arabic and uses apps like Telegram and Signal. There’s also a “radicalized protest persona” posing as a lonely 36-year-old activist interested in body positivity and baking.
“This idea of having an AI pretending to be somebody, a youth looking for pedophiles to talk online, or somebody who is a fake terrorist, is an idea that goes back a long time,” said Dave Maass from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, as reported by 404 Media.
“The problem with all these things is that these are ill-defined problems. I’m not concerned about escorts. I’m not concerned about college protesters. So like, what is it effective at, violating protesters’ First Amendment rights?” Dave added.
Despite all this, 404 Media reports that Pinal County confirms no arrests have been made yet. “Massive Blue has produced leads that detectives are actively pursuing,” said spokesperson Sam Salzwedel. “But we cannot disclose further details,” he added.
image by Shutter Speed, from Unsplash
Judge Rules Google Illegally Dominates Online Ad Tech Market
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
A U.S. judge ruled Google illegally dominates online ad tech markets, opening the door for antitrust action that could force a business breakup.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Case targets publisher ad servers and ad exchanges.
- DOJ may push Google to sell ad business.
- Google to appeal ruling on publisher tools.
A U.S. judge has ruled that Google broke the law by dominating key parts of the online advertising market, marking a major setback for the tech giant and clearing the way for the government to push for a breakup of its ad business, as first reported by Reuters .
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google was “willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power” in two markets: publisher ad servers and ad exchanges. These tools help websites manage and sell ad space, which Brinkema called the “lifeblood” of the internet, reported Reuters.
“In addition to depriving rivals of the ability to compete, this exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Google’s publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web,” she wrote, as reported by Reuters.
The ruling allows a future hearing to decide how Google must restore competition, possibly by forcing it to sell parts of its advertising arm. This comes after another court previously ruled that Google also holds a monopoly in online search.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) wants Google to sell its Google Ad Manager, which includes both the ad server and ad exchange. Reuters notes that the company had already considered selling its ad exchange to satisfy European regulators.
Reuters reports that U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi praised the decision as “a landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square.”
“This Department of Justice will continue taking bold legal action to protect the American people from encroachments on free speech and free markets by tech companies,” she added, as reported by Reuters.
Google says it will appeal. “We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of regulatory affairs. “Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective,” he added, as reported by Reuters.
