Sophia Goodfriend
@sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social
Anthropologist, research fellow at University of Cambridge Pembroke College Cambridge & non-resident fellow at Harvard Kennedy School Middle East Initiative, writes about AI and war in Israel & Palestine
Pinned
Sophia Goodfriend · Kill Lists
The IDF’s AI-assisted systems allow the military to bypas...
www.lrb.co.uk
My latest for the @LRB dives into the roots of Israel's AI-assisted targeting in Gaza
It's a story about a military obsessed with building its killing capacities to scale, to the detriment of regional security
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/n19/sophia-goodfriend/kill-lists
It's a story about a military obsessed with building its killing capacities to scale, to the detriment of regional security
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/n19/sophia-goodfriend/kill-lists
I wrote about strongmen, spyware, and the surveillance state for @bostonreview.bsky.social
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Strongman’s Surveillance State - Boston Review
The Trump administration has unfrozen a Biden-era hold on powerful Israeli-made spyware, now in the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
www.bostonreview.net
September 22, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I wrote about strongmen, spyware, and the surveillance state for @bostonreview.bsky.social
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
Reposted by Sophia Goodfriend
The Trump administration has unfrozen a Biden-era hold on powerful Israeli-made spyware, now in the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
@sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social on what the contract portends for escalating strongman rule:
@sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social on what the contract portends for escalating strongman rule:
The Strongman’s Surveillance State - Boston Review
The Trump administration has unfrozen a Biden-era hold on powerful Israeli-made spyware, now in the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
www.bostonreview.net
September 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The Trump administration has unfrozen a Biden-era hold on powerful Israeli-made spyware, now in the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
@sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social on what the contract portends for escalating strongman rule:
@sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social on what the contract portends for escalating strongman rule:
In case you missed it: I wrote about killer slop
On the homefront, AI systems churn out low-grade memes ad infinitum. But on the battlefield, they provide an endless supply of questionable military targets. And as @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social argues, nowhere is this more apparent than in Gaza.
Deadly Slop | Sophia Goodfriend
AI-generated slop is also the correlate and counterpart of contemporary warfare.
thebaffler.com
July 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
In case you missed it: I wrote about killer slop
For @thebaffler.com I wrote about how AI-generated slop is the correlate and counterpoint of AI-powered war
thebaffler.com/latest/deadl...
thebaffler.com/latest/deadl...
Deadly Slop | Sophia Goodfriend
AI-generated slop is also the correlate and counterpart of contemporary warfare.
thebaffler.com
July 11, 2025 at 7:22 AM
For @thebaffler.com I wrote about how AI-generated slop is the correlate and counterpoint of AI-powered war
thebaffler.com/latest/deadl...
thebaffler.com/latest/deadl...
There's been reports of small drones deployed by Israeli forces across Gaza, but what's most astounding here is the link between American crowd funding efforts to arm Israel's military and the targeting of civilians and civilian areas.
From @972mag.com
www.972mag.com/drones-grena...
From @972mag.com
www.972mag.com/drones-grena...
Israel enforcing Gaza evacuations with grenade-firing drones
Israeli soldiers tell +972 they deliberately target Palestinian civilians with drone strikes so others will ‘learn’ not to return.
www.972mag.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:11 AM
There's been reports of small drones deployed by Israeli forces across Gaza, but what's most astounding here is the link between American crowd funding efforts to arm Israel's military and the targeting of civilians and civilian areas.
From @972mag.com
www.972mag.com/drones-grena...
From @972mag.com
www.972mag.com/drones-grena...
Reposted by Sophia Goodfriend
A good overview of the thorny implications of the newly enlisted tech execs as reservists by @sklovig.bsky.social with commentary by the excellent @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social and myself.
Four Silicon Valley executives have been recruited into a specialist tech-focused unit of the US Army Reserves in a bid to “bridge the commercial-military tech gap” and make the armed forces “more lethal.”
www.computerweekly.com/news/3666266...
www.computerweekly.com/news/3666266...
Silicon Valley execs sworn in to US Army reserves specialist unit | Computer Weekly
Four technology executives have been brought into the military fold with an explicit remit to make the Armed Forces “more lethal,” reflecting the softening attitudes throughout the sector towards “the...
www.computerweekly.com
June 28, 2025 at 7:47 AM
A good overview of the thorny implications of the newly enlisted tech execs as reservists by @sklovig.bsky.social with commentary by the excellent @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social and myself.
I was glad to speak with @sklovig.bsky.social about the militarisation of the US’ AI industry
It’s an important look at how Silicon Valley is working with the Trump admin to turbocharge AI weapons development
It’s an important look at how Silicon Valley is working with the Trump admin to turbocharge AI weapons development
Four Silicon Valley executives have been recruited into a specialist tech-focused unit of the US Army Reserves in a bid to “bridge the commercial-military tech gap” and make the armed forces “more lethal.”
www.computerweekly.com/news/3666266...
www.computerweekly.com/news/3666266...
Silicon Valley execs sworn in to US Army reserves specialist unit | Computer Weekly
Four technology executives have been brought into the military fold with an explicit remit to make the Armed Forces “more lethal,” reflecting the softening attitudes throughout the sector towards “the...
www.computerweekly.com
June 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I was glad to speak with @sklovig.bsky.social about the militarisation of the US’ AI industry
It’s an important look at how Silicon Valley is working with the Trump admin to turbocharge AI weapons development
It’s an important look at how Silicon Valley is working with the Trump admin to turbocharge AI weapons development
The Christian pilgrims, stranded in Tel Aviv, have gone rogue
June 20, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The Christian pilgrims, stranded in Tel Aviv, have gone rogue
Tel Aviv and its surroundings this morning
June 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Tel Aviv and its surroundings this morning
Was a pleasure to speak with Akela and Chris last week.
Thanks to @theintercept.com for hosting this deep dive into the Trump administration's surveillance dragnet
Thanks to @theintercept.com for hosting this deep dive into the Trump administration's surveillance dragnet
NEW 🎧: It’s the heyday of surveillance capitalism. Attacks on immigrants & pro-Palestine voices have become one under a massive warrantless dragnet — with lessons taken straight from Israel. W/ @chrisgelardi.bsky.social & @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social
Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
How Student Protesters and Immigrants Became Targets of Trump’s Surveillance Tech
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · 05/30/2025 · 41m
podcasts.apple.com
June 1, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Was a pleasure to speak with Akela and Chris last week.
Thanks to @theintercept.com for hosting this deep dive into the Trump administration's surveillance dragnet
Thanks to @theintercept.com for hosting this deep dive into the Trump administration's surveillance dragnet
Reposted by Sophia Goodfriend
NEW 🎧: It’s the heyday of surveillance capitalism. Attacks on immigrants & pro-Palestine voices have become one under a massive warrantless dragnet — with lessons taken straight from Israel. W/ @chrisgelardi.bsky.social & @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social
Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
How Student Protesters and Immigrants Became Targets of Trump’s Surveillance Tech
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · 05/30/2025 · 41m
podcasts.apple.com
May 30, 2025 at 2:45 PM
NEW 🎧: It’s the heyday of surveillance capitalism. Attacks on immigrants & pro-Palestine voices have become one under a massive warrantless dragnet — with lessons taken straight from Israel. W/ @chrisgelardi.bsky.social & @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social
Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Reposted by Sophia Goodfriend
Required reading for my friends out there also studying immigration right now.
Also highly recommend the recent @theintercept.com podcast episode with @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social and @chrisgelardi.bsky.social talking about this and more
Also highly recommend the recent @theintercept.com podcast episode with @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social and @chrisgelardi.bsky.social talking about this and more
The Trump administration has unleashed a massive domestic surveillance apparatus, thanks to AI systems supplied by major tech firms
I wrote about its origins and impact on the ground for @dissentmag.bsky.social and the @theintercept.com
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
I wrote about its origins and impact on the ground for @dissentmag.bsky.social and the @theintercept.com
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
The AI Dragnet - Dissent Magazine
The U.S. government is activating a suite of algorithmic surveillance tools, developed in concert with major tech companies, to monitor and criminalize immigrants’ speech.
www.dissentmagazine.org
May 31, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Required reading for my friends out there also studying immigration right now.
Also highly recommend the recent @theintercept.com podcast episode with @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social and @chrisgelardi.bsky.social talking about this and more
Also highly recommend the recent @theintercept.com podcast episode with @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social and @chrisgelardi.bsky.social talking about this and more
Looking forward to this conversation on Wednesday, tune in online at 2 PM CET, 8 AM EST
🤖 Killing in the name of…? Developments in autonomous weapon systems are moving faster than a bullet, with current use cases in Ukraine, Isr/Gaza.
Join us on 7 May to discuss current tech changes and urgent regulation with @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social, @verityc.bsky.social online at @amnesty.de.
Join us on 7 May to discuss current tech changes and urgent regulation with @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social, @verityc.bsky.social online at @amnesty.de.
May 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Looking forward to this conversation on Wednesday, tune in online at 2 PM CET, 8 AM EST
The Trump administration has unleashed a massive domestic surveillance apparatus, thanks to AI systems supplied by major tech firms
I wrote about its origins and impact on the ground for @dissentmag.bsky.social and the @theintercept.com
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
I wrote about its origins and impact on the ground for @dissentmag.bsky.social and the @theintercept.com
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
The AI Dragnet - Dissent Magazine
The U.S. government is activating a suite of algorithmic surveillance tools, developed in concert with major tech companies, to monitor and criminalize immigrants’ speech.
www.dissentmagazine.org
May 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The Trump administration has unleashed a massive domestic surveillance apparatus, thanks to AI systems supplied by major tech firms
I wrote about its origins and impact on the ground for @dissentmag.bsky.social and the @theintercept.com
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
I wrote about its origins and impact on the ground for @dissentmag.bsky.social and the @theintercept.com
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
Reposted by Sophia Goodfriend
The U.S. government is activating a suite of algorithmic surveillance tools, developed in concert with major tech companies, to monitor and criminalize immigrants’ speech.
By @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social, published in collaboration with @theintercept.com:
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
By @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social, published in collaboration with @theintercept.com:
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
The AI Dragnet - Dissent Magazine
The U.S. government is activating a suite of algorithmic surveillance tools, developed in concert with major tech companies, to monitor and criminalize immigrants’ speech.
www.dissentmagazine.org
April 30, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The U.S. government is activating a suite of algorithmic surveillance tools, developed in concert with major tech companies, to monitor and criminalize immigrants’ speech.
By @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social, published in collaboration with @theintercept.com:
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
By @sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social, published in collaboration with @theintercept.com:
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
For @dissentmag.bsky.social and @theintercept.com I wrote about the origins of "Catch and Revoke" & how AI-assisted surveillance rationalizes ever-more punitive policies in Israel, the US, and beyond
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
The AI Dragnet - Dissent Magazine
The U.S. government is activating a suite of algorithmic surveillance tools, developed in concert with major tech companies, to monitor and criminalize immigrants’ speech.
www.dissentmagazine.org
April 30, 2025 at 3:13 PM
For @dissentmag.bsky.social and @theintercept.com I wrote about the origins of "Catch and Revoke" & how AI-assisted surveillance rationalizes ever-more punitive policies in Israel, the US, and beyond
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
"When you hold so much data, you can direct it toward any purpose you choose.”
Don't miss the latest from @972mag.bsky.social
More confimation that the imperatives of AI development drive mass surveillance & incarceration across Palestine
www.972mag.com/israeli-inte...
Don't miss the latest from @972mag.bsky.social
More confimation that the imperatives of AI development drive mass surveillance & incarceration across Palestine
www.972mag.com/israeli-inte...
Israel is building a ChatGPT-like tool weaponizing surveillance of Palestinians
The Israeli army is developing an AI language model using millions of intercepted conversations between Palestinians, accelerating incrimination and arrest.
www.972mag.com
March 6, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"When you hold so much data, you can direct it toward any purpose you choose.”
Don't miss the latest from @972mag.bsky.social
More confimation that the imperatives of AI development drive mass surveillance & incarceration across Palestine
www.972mag.com/israeli-inte...
Don't miss the latest from @972mag.bsky.social
More confimation that the imperatives of AI development drive mass surveillance & incarceration across Palestine
www.972mag.com/israeli-inte...
Important reporting from @972mag.bsky.social
Lacking precise intelligence, Israeli troops used bunker-buster bombs & toxic gas to destroy Hamas tunnels despite danger to hostages and civilians.
“[the army] said let’s just blow everything up and create destruction”
www.972mag.com/tunnels-hama...
Lacking precise intelligence, Israeli troops used bunker-buster bombs & toxic gas to destroy Hamas tunnels despite danger to hostages and civilians.
“[the army] said let’s just blow everything up and create destruction”
www.972mag.com/tunnels-hama...
Bomb the area, gas the tunnels: Israel’s war on Gaza’s underground
The Israeli army decimated entire residential blocks with bunker-buster bombs to crush the passages below and flood them with lethal fumes.
www.972mag.com
February 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Important reporting from @972mag.bsky.social
Lacking precise intelligence, Israeli troops used bunker-buster bombs & toxic gas to destroy Hamas tunnels despite danger to hostages and civilians.
“[the army] said let’s just blow everything up and create destruction”
www.972mag.com/tunnels-hama...
Lacking precise intelligence, Israeli troops used bunker-buster bombs & toxic gas to destroy Hamas tunnels despite danger to hostages and civilians.
“[the army] said let’s just blow everything up and create destruction”
www.972mag.com/tunnels-hama...
Reposted by Sophia Goodfriend
I'm in the @nytimes.com @nytopinion.nytimes.com this morning asking: Who exactly is running the federal government?
If we can’t answer that simple question, government officials and civil society must recognize warning signs of state capture and take back what's ours. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
If we can’t answer that simple question, government officials and civil society must recognize warning signs of state capture and take back what's ours. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
February 5, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I'm in the @nytimes.com @nytopinion.nytimes.com this morning asking: Who exactly is running the federal government?
If we can’t answer that simple question, government officials and civil society must recognize warning signs of state capture and take back what's ours. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
If we can’t answer that simple question, government officials and civil society must recognize warning signs of state capture and take back what's ours. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
Reposted by Sophia Goodfriend
‘In exchange for technology and expertise, the Israeli army offered companies it worked with access to an unlimited supply of data. Many of the deals contravened Silicon Valley’s doveish mission statements and human rights policies.’
@sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
@sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
Sophia Goodfriend | Militarised AI
Last week, a trove of leaked documents offered a glimpse into the role that large technology companies have played in...
www.lrb.co.uk
February 1, 2025 at 2:50 PM
‘In exchange for technology and expertise, the Israeli army offered companies it worked with access to an unlimited supply of data. Many of the deals contravened Silicon Valley’s doveish mission statements and human rights policies.’
@sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
@sophiagoodfriend.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
Reposted by Sophia Goodfriend
At @lawfare.bsky.social, our searchable table of legal challenges to Trump's executive orders is filling up quickly.
Please DM me if we're missing litigation on EOs within our bailiwick. A little crowdsourcing can go a long way.
Link here: www.lawfaremedia.org/projects-ser...
Please DM me if we're missing litigation on EOs within our bailiwick. A little crowdsourcing can go a long way.
Link here: www.lawfaremedia.org/projects-ser...
January 28, 2025 at 7:23 PM
At @lawfare.bsky.social, our searchable table of legal challenges to Trump's executive orders is filling up quickly.
Please DM me if we're missing litigation on EOs within our bailiwick. A little crowdsourcing can go a long way.
Link here: www.lawfaremedia.org/projects-ser...
Please DM me if we're missing litigation on EOs within our bailiwick. A little crowdsourcing can go a long way.
Link here: www.lawfaremedia.org/projects-ser...
Last week, a series of leaked documents revealed tech companies' instrumental war in Israel's war efforts
I wrote a brief response for the @LRB blog: on Gaza, Silicon Valley, and militarized AI.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
I wrote a brief response for the @LRB blog: on Gaza, Silicon Valley, and militarized AI.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
Sophia Goodfriend | Militarised AI
Last week, a trove of leaked documents offered a glimpse into the role that large technology companies have played in...
www.lrb.co.uk
January 28, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Last week, a series of leaked documents revealed tech companies' instrumental war in Israel's war efforts
I wrote a brief response for the @LRB blog: on Gaza, Silicon Valley, and militarized AI.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
I wrote a brief response for the @LRB blog: on Gaza, Silicon Valley, and militarized AI.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...
It's been a big week for news of big tech's role in Israeli war efforts
According to @972mag.bsky.social Microsoft developers became so embedded in Israeli intel units they were referred to as “people who are already working with the unit,” as if they were soldiers
www.972mag.com/microsoft-az...
According to @972mag.bsky.social Microsoft developers became so embedded in Israeli intel units they were referred to as “people who are already working with the unit,” as if they were soldiers
www.972mag.com/microsoft-az...
Leaked documents expose deep ties between Israeli army and Microsoft
Since Oct. 7, the Israeli military has relied heavily on cloud and AI services from Microsoft and its partner OpenAI, while the tech giant’s staff embed with different units to support rollout, a join...
www.972mag.com
January 23, 2025 at 12:37 PM
It's been a big week for news of big tech's role in Israeli war efforts
According to @972mag.bsky.social Microsoft developers became so embedded in Israeli intel units they were referred to as “people who are already working with the unit,” as if they were soldiers
www.972mag.com/microsoft-az...
According to @972mag.bsky.social Microsoft developers became so embedded in Israeli intel units they were referred to as “people who are already working with the unit,” as if they were soldiers
www.972mag.com/microsoft-az...
Reposted by Sophia Goodfriend
New year, new article! I am so delighted to see my piece on venture capital logics, military AI companies and their impact on shaping military norms out with @finandsoc.bsky.social. Open access! #civmilsky #milsky www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
From blitzkrieg to blitzscaling: Assessing the impact of venture capital dynamics on military norms | Finance and Society | Cambridge Core
From blitzkrieg to blitzscaling: Assessing the impact of venture capital dynamics on military norms
www.cambridge.org
January 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
New year, new article! I am so delighted to see my piece on venture capital logics, military AI companies and their impact on shaping military norms out with @finandsoc.bsky.social. Open access! #civmilsky #milsky www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
I went to Israel’s first defence tech summit so you didn’t have to
Read about Silicon Valley’s warlords in Tel Aviv and the militarised AI “renaissance”
www.972mag.com/gaza-war-tru...
Read about Silicon Valley’s warlords in Tel Aviv and the militarised AI “renaissance”
www.972mag.com/gaza-war-tru...
With Gaza war and Trump’s return, Silicon Valley embraces a military renaissance
At Israel’s first DefenseTech Summit, corporate leaders and army officials openly touted their partnership in AI-driven warfare and surveillance.
www.972mag.com
December 31, 2024 at 4:25 PM
I went to Israel’s first defence tech summit so you didn’t have to
Read about Silicon Valley’s warlords in Tel Aviv and the militarised AI “renaissance”
www.972mag.com/gaza-war-tru...
Read about Silicon Valley’s warlords in Tel Aviv and the militarised AI “renaissance”
www.972mag.com/gaza-war-tru...