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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Technology
Nick Robins-Early

How the FBI can conduct mass surveillance – even without AI

a man in a suit sits at a table with people seated behind him
Kash Patel, Director of the FBI during a hearing of the House Select Committee on Intelligence on the 2026 Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment at the US Capitol, Washington USA, 19 March 2026. Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA

The FBI declares it can conduct mass surveillance without AI, despite Anthropic’s protest.

A central part of the standoff between Anthropic and the Department of Defense has revolved around the artificial intelligence firm’s refusal to allow its technology to be used for mass domestic surveillance. Yet even without the cooperation of AI firms, remarks this week from Kash Patel, FBI director, show how authorities are by any reasonable measure already operating a system that can surveil citizens at scale.

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