The Revolutionary Impact of AI on Government Monitoring
AI technology has revolutionized how governments monitor their populations, enabling 24-hour surveillance. In Iran, women are required by law to wear a hijab or niqab (which covers the entire face except for the eyes) in public places, covering their hair, neck, and shoulders, while their faces remain visible. This law extends to online meetings and videos. AI plays a crucial role in enforcing these regulations across the country.
The Role of AI in Enforcing Hijab Laws
For over 40 years, Iran’s hijab laws were enforced by their “morality police.” In 2016, The city of Tehran alone employed 7,000 undercover officers to ensure compliance with hijab usage and the prohibition of unrelated mixed-gender gatherings. Penalties for violations were severe, including hefty fines, flogging, and prison sentences of 5 to 15 years.
The death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, after being arrested by the morality police for improperly wearing her hijab, sparked widespread protests. In response, Iran announced the abolition of the morality police in December 2022, only for them to reappear in July 2023 with a “softer [less visible] approach.”
AI Surveillance Systems in Action
To reduce the visibility of morality police and enhance enforcement, Iran turned to AI. AI systems require vast amounts of data, which are generated by closed-circuit cameras (CCTV), license plate readers, photo ID driver’s licenses, and cell phones. Globally, there is approximately one CCTV for every eight people. These generators of data operate 24 hours a day. AI can process more data in an hour than a human can in a lifetime.
Facial, iris, and license plate readers can easily match a person or car to a camera image. Iran uses AI algorithms to identify women and check if they are wearing their hijab correctly, even at night in a car. Starting in April 2023, Iran’s AI surveillance system (AISS) began sending SMS warnings to women not wearing a hijab properly. Nearly one million SMS warnings were sent to cell phones in the first two months. The messages warn that repeated violations will result in a 14-day vehicle immobilization. Further violations can lead to car and cell phone confiscation, court appearances, heavy fines, loss of employment benefits, dismissal from work, prohibition from accessing banking services, and up to ten years in prison.
The Broader Implications of AI Surveillance
AI technology allows for continuous, low-cost surveillance, a level of monitoring previously impossible with human resources alone. This technology can monitor every conversation, whether on a phone call, chatbot, text message, web search, webinar, or internet viewership. The rapid capture of Luigi Mangione, the alleged shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, demonstrates AI’s capability to process vast amounts of data to achieve its objectives quickly. We are entering an uncharted era of surveillance, not just by governments but also by commercial entities like merchants, service providers, employers, advertisers, and insurance companies.
