Overview
- United Auto Workers, Communications Workers of America and the American Federation of Teachers filed a complaint in the Southern District of New York against State and Homeland Security, naming Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
- The unions, represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation with partner groups, allege an interagency program uses AI and automated tools to search social media for disfavored viewpoints and to trigger visa revocations or deportation threats.
- The plaintiffs seek an injunction halting what they call viewpoint‑based surveillance and a court order to purge records, arguing violations of the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Plaintiffs cite survey data showing members have deleted posts or reduced union activity out of fear, while the State Department publicly defended recent revocations and posted six examples tied to comments about Charlie Kirk.
- The filing builds on a recent Massachusetts ruling that found related enforcement against students violated free‑speech rights, and next steps include a likely government motion to dismiss, preliminary‑injunction briefing and potential discovery into the tools agencies use.