US law enforcement and intel agency docs: since 2021, the FBI, DHS, and NYPD have viewed AI as both a facilitator of violent extremism and a target for attacks

Law enforcement is actively monitoring and potentially surveilling opposition to data centers, which could ensnare non-violent protesters.

US law enforcement and intelligence agencies have identified artificial intelligence as both a tool and a target for terrorists since 2021. Documents reviewed by The Guardian reveal that agencies including the FBI, DHS, and NYPD are increasingly concerned about extremists using generative AI to plan attacks, recruit members, and create disinformation. A May 2026 FBI memo highlighted that current AI safeguards are insufficient, with threat actors likely to increase their use of GenAI tools for attack planning, exploiting 'jailbreaking' techniques. Concurrently, these agencies are monitoring opposition to AI infrastructure, such as data centers, from groups with extremist ideologies. This dual focus stems from a history of anti-tech extremism targeting critical infrastructure and the new capabilities AI offers to malicious actors. Reports from fusion centers across the US indicate growing threats from domestic violent extremists targeting data facilities with vandalism and violence, with concerns about the methodology mirroring earlier plots against infrastructure.

US law enforcement's view of AI as a dual threat—a tool for terrorists and a target of extremists—signals a significant evolution in national security concerns. The inadequate safeguards in current generative AI models, as highlighted by the FBI, suggest a persistent vulnerability that threat actors will exploit for planning and executing attacks. This technological arms race between AI capabilities and security measures is likely to intensify, requiring continuous adaptation from both developers and law enforcement.

The parallel monitoring of anti-AI and anti-data center sentiment by law enforcement indicates a broadening scope of security interests that could inadvertently encompass legitimate environmental and social activism. As opposition to AI's societal impact grows into a mainstream issue, the line between tracking extremist threats and surveilling peaceful dissent may become increasingly blurred, raising concerns about civil liberties.