US Agencies Circulate 1,000 Pages on 'Anti-Technology Extremists' as AI Protests Spread Across 42 States
Updated
Updated · WIRED · May 26
US Agencies Circulate 1,000 Pages on 'Anti-Technology Extremists' as AI Protests Spread Across 42 States
5 articles · Updated · WIRED · May 26
More than 1,000 pages of DHS, FBI and fusion-center reports show US authorities have begun treating “anti-technology extremists” as a new domestic threat category, according to documents obtained by WIRED.
The shift follows attacks on CEOs, protests against data centers and rising anxiety over AI-driven job loss, with New York and Northern Virginia intelligence reports warning that unrest around AI and critical infrastructure could turn violent.
Those reports also flag broad behaviors such as photography, surveillance and attendance at civic meetings, while fusion centers tracked Tesla protests, anti-tech demonstrations and local hearings where residents opposed nearby data-center projects.
Hundreds of groups in 42 states have organized against data-center construction, and civil-rights lawyers warn the new framework could sweep peaceful protesters, AI skeptics and critics of Big Tech into domestic-extremism surveillance.
The effort fits a wider Trump administration push to prioritize left-wing extremism and target “anti-American,” “anti-Christian” and “anti-capitalism” beliefs, raising concerns that protected speech and assembly are being recast as security threats.
As AI fuels public anxiety, where does the government draw the line between dissent and domestic terrorism?
Is the focus on 'anti-tech extremists' ignoring the economic fears of millions facing AI-driven job loss?
Are private data brokers and fusion centers creating a new, warrantless surveillance system to monitor citizens?
"Anti-Technology Extremism" in 2026: Escalating AI Protest, Federal Crackdown, and the Erosion of Civil Liberties
Overview
In April 2026, a surge in anti-AI protest violence, highlighted by the arrest of Daniel Moreno-Gama with a manifesto targeting AI leaders, triggered a strong federal response. Authorities, including DHS and the FBI, quickly labeled these actions as 'anti-technology extremism,' reflecting growing public anxiety over rapid AI development and weak oversight. This new label emerged from high-level security discussions and led to expanded surveillance and monitoring of dissent. The government's broad approach raised concerns among legal experts and civil liberties advocates, who warned that it could threaten free speech and blur the line between protest and extremism.