Labor Unions, EFF Sue Trump Administration to Stop Online Speech Surveillance
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UAW, CWA, and AFT Sue State and Homeland Security Over Online Surveillance
NEW YORK-The United Automobile Workers (UAW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), and american Federation of Teachers (AFT) filed a lawsuit today against the Departments of State and Homeland Security for their viewpoint-based surveillance and suppression of protected expression online. The complaint asks a federal court to stop this unconstitutional surveillance program, which has silenced and frightened both citizens and noncitizens, and hampered the ability of the unions to associate with their members and potential members. The case is titled UAW v. State Department.
As taking power, the Trump administration created a mass surveillance program to monitor constitutionally protected speech by noncitizens lawfully present in the U.S. Using AI and other automated technologies, the program surveils the social media accounts of visa holders with the goal of identifying and punishing those who express viewpoints the government doesn’t like. This has been paired with a public intimidation campaign, silencing not just noncitizens with immigration status, but also the families, coworkers, and friends with whom their lives are integrated.
The Impact of Surveillance: A Quantifiable Chill
As detailed in the complaint, the surveillance program has demonstrably impacted union members’ online behavior.A survey revealed significant self-censorship among those aware of the program:
| Union | Aware of Program (%) | Changed Social Media Activity (%) |
|---|---|---|
| UAW (All Members) | N/A | Over 60% |
| CWA (All Members) | N/A | Over 30% |
| UAW (Non-Citizens) | N/A | Over 80% |
| CWA (Non-Citizens) | N/A | Over 40% |
These numbers highlight a clear chilling effect on free speech. Individual union members reported a range of responses to the surveillance program, including:
- Refraining from posting on social media
- Refraining from sharing union content
- Deleting existing posts
- Deleting entire social media accounts