Global digital surveillance expands through state censorship and AI camera networks

Reporters Without Borders has identified twelve countries as ‘enemies of the internet’ due to massive online surveillance and censorship. The list includes Bahrain, Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The report notes that China is exerting pressure on private internet firms to assist in censorship, while Iran has announced plans for a ‘national internet’. Currently, approximately 120 bloggers and online activists are imprisoned worldwide, with significant numbers in China, Iran, and Vietnam.

In the United States, surveillance technology is expanding through AI-powered camera networks. Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company, has deployed between 100,000 and 120,000 automated license plate readers across more than 5,000 communities. These systems scan roughly 20 billion license plates monthly, collecting data on vehicle make, model, color, and other details. Reports indicate that government fusion centers are monitoring social media to track individuals who organize resistance against these surveillance tools.