U.S. Senator Rand Paul | U.S. Senator Rand Paul official website
U.S. Senator Rand Paul | U.S. Senator Rand Paul official website
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, voiced concerns over the U.S. government's use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that could potentially infringe on American civil liberties. During a hearing titled "Governing Artificial Intelligence Through Acquisition and Procurement," Dr. Paul emphasized the collaboration between federal agencies and social media platforms, which has resulted in the violation of First Amendment rights for American citizens.
Dr. Paul discussed the unconstitutional surveillance carried out by government agencies over the years, as well as their collusive efforts with private companies to suppress the protected speech of Americans. Notably, agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have utilized taxpayer funds to coerce major social media platforms into moderating online conversations on topics such as COVID-19 vaccines and mask usage. Dr. Paul stressed that the rapid development of AI exacerbates the dangers of domestic censorship, as the same agencies responsible for stifling free speech are now using public funds to develop AI technologies aimed at shaping online information.
In 2021, the Department of Defense (DOD) established a program to create AI tools that enhance the moderation capability of social media platforms, intending to establish a "more stable information environment." Furthermore, through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the DOD solicited proposals to study how other countries utilize internet censorship to repress their populations at scale.
During the hearing, Dr. Paul engaged in a discussion about government censorship with witness Michael Shellenberger, who exposed DHS's attempts to pressure social media companies into removing posts and deplatforming individuals. Shellenberger also revealed that the FBI made payments to Twitter to cover expenses incurred while complying with government requests to suppress the Hunter Biden story. While Dr. Paul acknowledged the potential benefits of AI applications, such as processing unclassified data backlogs and supporting industries like healthcare and education, he emphasized that the real threat lies in an unchecked government that develops programs to amplify censorship of the American public.
'Ranking Member Paul stressed that Congress should prevent federal agencies from suppressing constitutionally protected speech, and he highlighted the necessity of developing artificial intelligence technologies with the public's best interest in mind, rather than for government surveillance,' said Dr. Paul.
Watch Dr. Paul's opening remarks here and his questioning here.
Contact:Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343
Source:Senator Rand Paul
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