In June 2025, The Guardian reported that the University of Michigan allocated over $800,000 to Amerishield for surveillance of pro-Palestinian student activists. This was part of a broader $3 million budget for public security. Agents from City Shield, a private security firm, harassed students, staged confrontations, and gathered evidence for prosecution. Additionally, Massive Blue's AI tool, Overwatch, infiltrates online spaces to monitor activists. The surveillance technology used by these agencies includes geofencing and predictive analytics, aiming to intimidate and control dissent, echoing repressive tactics worldwide, such as biometric aid registration in Gaza.
The University of Michigan's $3 million security budget included over $800,000 for surveillance of pro-Palestinian activists, using agents to harass and prosecute students.
Massive Blue's Overwatch tool employs AI to infiltrate online groups, targeting college protesters and activists, gathering intelligence through human-imitating bots.
Agencies use tools like geofencing and predictive analytics to surveil student behavior, allowing authorities to act preemptively against protests.
The surveillance acts as a form of intimidation, aligned with repression seen in other regions, such as biometric registration for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
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