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Behind Closed Doors: The Rise of AI Surveillance in U.S (and the world).
- learnwith ai
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
“You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide” has always been the lullaby of surveillance. – Unknown
A New Kind of Observer
Imagine entering a video meeting, exchanging ideas with colleagues, only to later discover the entire session was quietly transcribed by an AI tool you were never told about. For many federal employees across the United States, this is no longer a hypothetical it is an unsettling new reality.
Reports from multiple government agencies suggest that artificial intelligence is no longer just a policy topic it is now a quiet observer, embedded into daily communications.
Warnings from Within: The Department of Veterans Affairs
At the Department of Veterans Affairs, employees were warned via internal email that their virtual meetings were being recorded. The message was not subtle. Those dissatisfied with leadership decisions particularly those aligned with former President Trump were urged to remain silent. The implicit threat was clear: words could become liabilities.
Digital Eavesdropping: Fear at the State Department
Over at the State Department, IT staff disclosed the rollout of new monitoring software on employee machines. Federal workers, anxious over invisible surveillance, resorted to turning on sinks or white noise machines to mask private conversations. One employee compared it to living inside a horror film a slow-moving script of dread where the antagonist is unseen, yet ever-present.
“Big Brother is watching you.” – George Orwell, 1984
The AI Listener: Allegations Inside the EPA
A supervisor from a water management organization closely tied to the Environmental Protection Agency issued an alarming memo. Phone calls, virtual meetings, and even calendar entries were reportedly being monitored, transcribed, and analyzed by an AI system. Some employees even noticed an AI notetaker silently joining meetings uninvited and unannounced.
The EPA responded by labeling the claims as false. Still, they left key questions about AI usage unanswered.
The Rise of DOGE: AI Loyalty Scanning?
According to conversations and documents reviewed by journalists, the term “Doge” has emerged as shorthand for a shadowy initiative tied to Elon Musk. Employees claim Doge is powered by artificial intelligence, scanning internal communications for signs of disloyalty, criticism of Trump or Musk, or even mentions of diversity-related topics.
At a town hall in New England, VA officials reportedly told staff there was no longer any expectation of privacy. Everything could be monitored even whispers in the hallway.
“We are not only watched, but measured. We are not only heard, but categorized.” – Anonymous federal worker
A Culture of Paranoia Across Federal Agencies
This atmosphere of surveillance is not isolated. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development and NOAA, the fear is palpable. Waves of layoffs have gutted teams. Those left behind live with the fear that a stray comment or unguarded moment could spark disciplinary action or worse.
Encrypted Escape: The Collapse at USAID
Nowhere was the breakdown more visible than at USAID. After Trump-era leadership took over, staff discovered that internal group chats were being accessed. Some described the moment a new appointee suddenly appeared in a private chatroom of over 40 people — without warning or invitation.
Employees fled from official platforms and began using encrypted alternatives like Signal and WhatsApp, desperate to reclaim some sense of safety.
The Education Department Fallout
The Education Department paints a similar picture. Half the agency’s staff is reportedly gone. Survivors describe a hostile and omnipresent environment, where fear of surveillance has replaced the mission of public service. Doge, real or not, has become the symbol of paranoia.
“Surveillance is the business of mistrust.” – Bruce Schneier
The Official Denials
The White House denied all allegations. A spokesperson called the reports fiction, accusing journalists of manufacturing scandal. According to officials, Doge is not a weapon of political surveillance but a tool for preventing waste and fraud.
Agencies like the EPA issued vague responses, denying recording meetings but failing to address the presence of AI.
Uncertain Truth in a Time of Fear
Whether the stories are accurate in every detail or shaped by rumor and fear, one truth emerges: surveillance has altered the relationship between public servants and their work. AI, once a symbol of progress and efficiency, is now viewed as a mechanism of control.
And the final question lingers not in code or policy, but in whispered conversations behind running sinks:
Who is really listening?
“The most dangerous thing about surveillance is not what it sees, but what it silences.”
—The LearnWithAI.com Team
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