Description
The rights to privacy and free speech are dead in the age of digitalisation when AI and algorithmic systems have become increasingly prevalent across both private and public sectors. This paper critically examines the following question: ‘How can we, ordinary civilians, remain resilient and resist injustices in the age of AI?’. First, I discuss why the right to privacy and free speech are ‘dead’ in the age of AI, providing a critique of how the ambiguous definition and patriarchal nature of the 'national security' exclusion clause is used to surveil people. Second, I uncover the concerning trend of suppression and censorship on social movements through the activists' experiences in the Free Palestine movement in the EU. Using a relational lens, this paper investigates the collaboration between authorities and big tech companies who utilise AI as tools for 24/7 mass surveillance, highlighting the colonial legacy and capitalism's role in these relationships. Finally, I argue that both academia and the policymakers must shift the conversation from identifying and reacting to potential human rights violations to developing frameworks that scrutinise abuses of 'national security' by authorities, demanding greater transparency and accountability when such a clause is invoked.
