NEW YORK — In January, a protester at a New York rally against Israel was filmed with only her eyes visible behind a mask and headscarf. Shortly thereafter, images of her face, name, and employer spread across the internet.
A burgeoning technology firm took to social media to boast about its facial-recognition tool, claiming it successfully identified the woman despite her disguise, stating, “Months of them hiding their faces went down the drain!”
This incident is not isolated. The same technology was utilized to analyze images from pro-Palestinian demonstrations at U.S. colleges. A right-wing group claimed that some identified individuals had their names submitted to the Trump administration as part of a campaign to deport foreign students involved in what was termed “pro-jihadist” protests.
Pro-Israel organizations have also called on supporters to report foreign students participating in protests against the Gaza conflict to immigration authorities. The rise of facial-recognition technology used by private groups is blurring the lines between public law enforcement and private surveillance, raising concerns among foreign students that their activism could put their legal status at risk.
Abed Ayoub, of a civil rights organization, expressed alarm about the ramifications: “We don’t know who these individuals are or what they’re doing with this information. Essentially, the administration is outsourcing surveillance.”
Concerns escalated after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, who was involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Recent detentions, including a Tufts University student from Turkey, have sparked fears of further crackdowns on international students.
A Columbia student, involved in protests, stated, “Now they’re using tools of the state to actually go after people. We suddenly feel like we’re being forced to think about our survival.”
There are worries that groups targeting pro-Palestinian activists may misidentify innocent students. Some organizations focus on students who they believe engage in actions beyond peaceful protesting.
Eliyahu Hawila, a software engineer, has developed a tool used to identify masked protesters and has sent names to groups advocating deportations. He expressed a controversial viewpoint: “If you’re causing civil unrest while on a student visa, why would you come here?”
Reports indicate that the woman identified at the rally lost her job, confirming she had not worked there since earlier this year. She has not faced any charges.
The growing trend of doxing—revealing personal information to intimidate opponents—has gained traction during the conflict over Gaza. Legal experts caution that using private facial-recognition technologies poses serious implications for civil liberties.
Calls to report student protests to immigration agencies have intensified. Grassroots groups are urging followers to file complaints against foreign students affiliated with organizations like Hamas.
With recent conversations about targeting student protesters, anxiety among international students has noticeably increased, prompting many to take precautions against potential repercussions.
In light of these developments, many students are reconsidering their participation in protests, fearing potential consequences on their immigration status.
As the situation evolves, the protests in support of Palestine continue, but so does the climate of fear and uncertainty among activists.
