US Universities Use Counterterror Intelligence-Sharing Hubs to Spy on Pro-Palestine Students
A disturbing pattern of surveillance and repression has been uncovered in the US, where universities have partnered with counterterrorism hubs to monitor pro-Palestine students' activities. This trend is not new under the Biden administration, but has accelerated under the Trump administration.
The fusion centers, set up after 9/11, were designed to facilitate information sharing between law enforcement agencies. However, they have been used to target communities of color and push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable surveillance. The American Civil Liberties Union has long criticized these hubs for overreaching and infringing on civil rights.
In Ohio, a statewide counterterrorism hub sent a warning to administrators at Ohio State University about an upcoming pro-Palestine demonstration. This led to swift action by campus police, including the arrest of 36 students who were occupying a building in protest. The university's IT department had also been tracking IP and account information for all individuals connecting to WiFi in the occupied building.
Similar instances have been reported at other universities, including California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where federal agents were involved in clearing an occupied building and searching students' devices without warrants.
Pro-Palestine activists are facing a "crisis of repression" as repressive forces arrayed against them. The use of fusion centers to target students puts them at risk of civil rights infringement. Experts warn that universities should be wary of unleashing federal surveillance on their campuses due to the dubious intelligence shared by these hubs.
The Intercept has found that universities have long been aware of the framework for cracking down on student free speech, which was in place before pro-Palestine encampments became a priority. This highlights the extent to which universities have partnered with law enforcement agencies to suppress dissenting voices.
As tensions escalate, it is essential that press freedom and civil liberties are protected. The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments and the dangers of unchecked power. Join us in demanding action to safeguard democracy.
A disturbing pattern of surveillance and repression has been uncovered in the US, where universities have partnered with counterterrorism hubs to monitor pro-Palestine students' activities. This trend is not new under the Biden administration, but has accelerated under the Trump administration.
The fusion centers, set up after 9/11, were designed to facilitate information sharing between law enforcement agencies. However, they have been used to target communities of color and push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable surveillance. The American Civil Liberties Union has long criticized these hubs for overreaching and infringing on civil rights.
In Ohio, a statewide counterterrorism hub sent a warning to administrators at Ohio State University about an upcoming pro-Palestine demonstration. This led to swift action by campus police, including the arrest of 36 students who were occupying a building in protest. The university's IT department had also been tracking IP and account information for all individuals connecting to WiFi in the occupied building.
Similar instances have been reported at other universities, including California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where federal agents were involved in clearing an occupied building and searching students' devices without warrants.
Pro-Palestine activists are facing a "crisis of repression" as repressive forces arrayed against them. The use of fusion centers to target students puts them at risk of civil rights infringement. Experts warn that universities should be wary of unleashing federal surveillance on their campuses due to the dubious intelligence shared by these hubs.
The Intercept has found that universities have long been aware of the framework for cracking down on student free speech, which was in place before pro-Palestine encampments became a priority. This highlights the extent to which universities have partnered with law enforcement agencies to suppress dissenting voices.
As tensions escalate, it is essential that press freedom and civil liberties are protected. The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments and the dangers of unchecked power. Join us in demanding action to safeguard democracy.
I'm low-key shocked that US universities would partner with counterterror hubs to spy on pro-Palestine students 
. Like, shouldn't they be protecting free speech and encouraging critical thinking instead? It's crazy that these fusion centers have been used to target communities of color in the first place 
. And now they're using them to silence dissenting voices on campus? No thanks! 
We need more transparency and accountability from our universities, not less 
. And can we talk about how absurd it is that 36 students got arrested for occupying a building during a protest? Like, what's next? Arresting people for having different opinions? 
Not on my watch! 
. and the fact that 36 students got arrested for protesting is just insane what's next? campus police monitoring our online activity too? 
this is a huge invasion of civil rights and we need to speak out against it ASAP 
i think universities have a responsibility to ensure safety, but not at the cost of free speech and civil liberties... they need to find that balance 
The fact that these fusion centers have been doing this under both the Biden and Trump administrations is just disgusting. It's like universities are getting a free surveillance tool from the government, no thanks to oversight! 
We need to stand up against this kind of government overreach ASAP! 
it's like they're trying to silence dissenting voices and push the boundaries of what's considered acceptable on campus 
and now we're seeing it being put into action in a big way 
we can't let our schools become tools for authoritarianism 
... like, they're just exercising their right to free speech and it's being turned into a thing 
. It's crazy that universities are teaming up with counterterror hubs to monitor them - it's like, what even is the definition of terrorism here? 
These fusion centers are meant for sharing info between law enforcement agencies, but they're clearly being used to surveil students who are just trying to make their voices heard 
. And 36 students getting arrested over a protest is just not right 
... universities should be creating safe spaces for all kinds of activism, not stifling it 
. It's already bad enough that they're using these fusion centers to target communities of color and push the limits of surveillance. Now they're doing it on college campuses too? That's just wrong, man. The fact that they can track IP info without a warrant is like, totally not cool 
. We need to stand up for free speech and press freedom, you know? Can't let the government just silence dissenting voices without a fight 
. And it's not just that - the fact that IP and account info are being tracked for WiFi connections is just chill... 
, otherwise we risk losing the very things that make us a democracy 
. We need to make sure our universities are not becoming mini-GCHQs, snooping on everyone's online activities 
. The fact that these fusion centers have been sharing dubious intelligence is just a recipe for disaster 
.
. And it's not just the fact that they're spying on students, but also that they're using this info to silence them. Like, the 36 students who got arrested at Ohio State just because they were protesting peacefully... what does that say about our democracy? 
these hubs need to be held accountable for what they're doing 
like, what's next? Surveillance on climate activists or social justice organizers? 
It's all about silencing dissenting voices and suppressing free speech 
