Jokes about the FBI watching your every move through webcams are about to get a little more real.
The Bureau just signed a $27 million contract to use Babel X, AI-powered software that trawls social media for specific content.
It’s exactly the kind of surveillance software privacy activists are constantly warning the public about.
The contract, which includes 5,000 licenses for Babel X, began on March 30, The Washington Post reports.
About $5 million of the FBI’s contract will be paid out during the first year of the contract.
Though Babel X isn’t by any means new to the Department of Justice’s toolkit, these 5,000 licenses are a significant increase in its investment in such social media surveillance.
Keeping a close eye on general social media activity has become a priority for both the DOJ and the federal government.
https://www.inputmag.com/culture/fbi-investing-social-media-surveillance-software