AI in conflict zones: Systemic patterns of surveillance and resistance
Original framing: “How AI is being used to target Palestinians” — Al Jazeera
In many parts of the Global South, AI is being developed and adapted to local contexts in ways that challenge Western-centric narratives. For instance, in South Africa, AI is being used to monitor police violence and protect human rights. These examples show how technology can be repurposed for justice and accountability.
The use of AI in conflict zones is a systemic issue shaped by the interplay of surveillance capitalism, military-industrial complexes, and global power imbalances.
While Palestinian communities are using AI for resistance and documentation, the dominant narrative often overlooks the role of Western tech firms and the historical patterns of technological militarization. Indigenous and non-Western perspectives offer alternative models of using technology for self-determination and justice. A systemic solution requires ethical governance, grassroots empowerment, and interdisciplinary research to ensure that AI serves human dignity and peace rather than oppression and violence.