BREAKING: Oregon signs contract with AI-Powered threat intelligence platform to “combat election misinformation,” spy on citizens
SALEM, OR — With the 2024 election just a year away, the Oregon Secretary of State signed a contract with an AI-powered threat intelligence program to “identify, advise, and combat harmful MDM information online.” The contract was signed today, October 27th. OFA Media reached out to the Oregon Election’s Division communication team for comment, but haven’t received a response.
According to sources, the platform is a company called “Logically Intelligence” whose mission is to “reduce the harms associated with mis- and disinformation” and “provide analysts with content analysis tools to detect harmful online narratives and threats at speed and at scale.” Here’s an actual screen shot from the company’s website:
Logically Intelligence is based in the United Kingdom with offices in the U.K., U.S. (Virginia), and India. You heard that right. A company that’s been hired by a US state to “combat disinformation,” and spy on citizens, isn’t even based in the United States.
Logically’s founder, a British citizen and Harvard graduate named Lyric Jain, gave a Ted Talk about his company and “misinformation.” You can watch the Ted Talk here. Here’s a video of Jain’s speech at Cambridge:
According to the Oregon SOS RFP, which is a document that outlines the state’s plan and purpose of work it’s seeking, the state seeks to identify, advise, and create methods to combat harmful MDM (mis-, dis-, and mal- information) online. Here’s a screen shot of the “Scope of Work” from the RFP:
To see the full RFP document, click HERE.
Many Oregonians see this as a “big brother” situation and an infringement on their first amendment rights and freedom of speech. “It makes me feel unsafe. I feel even more mistrust of our government after this,” said Dayna Rainier, a Lake Oswego, Oregon resident.
As stated in the RFP, “the selected solution (Logically Intelligence) must perform 24/7 monitoring during special circumstances agreed upon between the selected Proposer and SOS.” In other words, a company based in another country will be monitoring your free speech 24/7 online.
Also, according to the RFP document, “the Proposer solution must provide a means to advance the presentation of factual material and counter the erosion of trust in public institutions and election systems.”
Some argue the creation of this plan is an erosion of public trust within itself. “What the government is saying is that they’re the only arbiters of truth and anyone who dissents will be silenced,” said Oregon citizen and founder of OFA Media, David Medina. “How does this not make someone more skeptical of our government?”
If you’d like to make a complaint with the Oregon Secretary of State and/or Election’s Office:
Main Contact: Phillip Andrews 971-600-6269 | Email: phillip.andrews@sos.oregon.gov
Oregon Election’s Office: 503-986-1518
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