Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that the State Department has designated Autistici/Inventati, a technology collective commonly known as A/I, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization. The designation targets what the department described as digital infrastructure used to coordinate doxxing campaigns against federal immigration and law enforcement officers.
According to a State Department official who spoke with the Daily Wire, Autistici/Inventati operates noblogs.org, a network of websites that host content for multiple domestic activist groups. The department alleges these sites have been used to publish personal information including home addresses, license plate numbers, and names of ICE and DHS employees.
Among the groups linked to the A/I network are Rose City Antifa in Portland, Oregon; Stop Cop City/Scenes from the Atlanta Forest; Against Beltway Fascism; Unravel; Boston Melt; Philly Anti-Capitalist; and Revolutionary Anarchist Liberation Front. The State Department shared documentation showing that Rose City Antifa allegedly published the names of at least five ICE agents on an A/I-hosted website, including home addresses for three of them.
What the Left Is Saying
Civil liberties organizations have raised concerns about using terrorism designations against activist networks. Critics argue that while doxxing constitutes harmful harassment, it may not meet the legal threshold for terrorism and could have broader implications for online speech and activism broadly protected under the First Amendment.
"Terrorism designations targeting domestic political organizations set a concerning precedent," said a spokesperson for the Electronic Frontier Foundation in a statement. "The line between protected political speech and unlawful activity must be carefully drawn."
Progressive legal scholars have questioned whether technology collectives providing hosting services bear responsibility for how their platforms are used, drawing parallels to debates over intermediary liability for social media companies.
Some progressive commentators noted that Brian Krassenstein, an anti-Trump activist who urged followers to donate to Autistici/Inventati following the designation, was warned by a State Department official that such donations would constitute a federal crime. The American Civil Liberties Union has not issued a public statement on this specific designation as of publication time.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative leaders have largely praised the designation as a necessary step to protect law enforcement and conservative organizations from coordinated harassment campaigns.
"There will be no refuge for violent extremists who wage war on our civilization and plot to undermine law and order," Rubio said in his announcement. "We will use all the tools and authorities at our disposal to fight terrorism and protect our way of life from terrorist coercion."
The designation specifically cited doxxing campaigns against The Heritage Foundation, including the publication of names and addresses of staff members, leadership, trustees, and authors associated with Project 2025. Republican lawmakers pointed to those incidents as evidence of escalating threats against conservative organizations.
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts called the designation "overdue" in a post on social media. "Those who coordinate attacks on conservative institutions should face real consequences," he wrote.
Conservative commentators have argued that doxxing campaigns constitute a form of intimidation designed to silence political opponents and can escalate to physical violence, as allegedly occurred when Philly Anti-Capitalist doxxed the CEO of Ghost Robotics, whose property was subsequently damaged.
What the Numbers Show
According to documentation provided by the State Department: Rose City Antifa published personal information on at least five ICE agents, including home addresses for three. Unravel leaked data on 48 ICE and DHS officers, including names, addresses, and other personally identifiable information that had been allegedly illegally obtained.
Stop Cop City/Scenes from the Atlanta Forest doxxed business owners and contractors associated with the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center project, publishing their addresses and personal information. Against Beltway Fascism published personal data of Heritage Foundation staff and Project 2025 authors after allegedly obtaining information through unauthorized means.
Boston Melt shared photos of license plates belonging to ICE and DHS officers in addition to other identifying information. Revolutionary Anarchist Liberation Front doxxed a co-founder of an AI firm in Montreal who was later targeted in a firebombing attack, the department alleged.
The Specially Designated Global Terrorist designation freezes any U.S.-based assets held by Autistici/Inventati and makes it illegal for Americans to conduct financial transactions with the organization. Penalties for violating these sanctions can include fines and imprisonment.
The Bottom Line
The designation of Autistici/Inventati marks a significant escalation in the federal government's response to domestic activist groups. It remains to be seen whether the administration will pursue additional designations against other organizations within the network or seek prosecutions under existing laws against those who donated to or collaborated with A/I.
Legal experts are watching closely for potential First Amendment challenges, as critics argue that designating technology collectives as terrorist organizations could have broad implications for online hosting providers and encrypted communication services. The State Department has indicated it will release additional documentation supporting the designation in coming days.
Civil liberties advocates say they expect legal challenges if the government pursues prosecutions related to donations or technical support for designated groups. Watch for congressional hearings on this topic as both chambers are expected to receive classified briefings on the evidence underlying the designation.