US Catholic Bishops Warn Artificial Intelligence Could Be Used to Surveil and Persecute Religious Groups

US Catholic bishops have issued a warning that artificial intelligence poses a serious risk to religious freedom, saying the technology could be used to surveil and persecute faith communities if left unchecked.

The bishops raised the alarm in statements reported by the Religion Media Centre, urging policymakers and technology developers to put human dignity at the center of AI development. They expressed concern that governments with records of religious persecution could use AI-powered surveillance tools to monitor churches, track worshippers, and identify religious leaders.

The warning comes as AI systems have become increasingly capable of facial recognition, voice identification, and large-scale data analysis. In countries like China, AI surveillance is already being used to monitor religious activity, with reports of cameras installed inside churches and mosques.

The bishops called for international agreements that would prohibit the use of AI for religious persecution. They also urged US technology companies to conduct human rights assessments before selling surveillance tools to foreign governments.

"The power of these technologies must not be turned against those who seek to worship freely," the bishops said in their statement.

The Catholic Church has been increasingly vocal about the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence. Pope Leo XIV has addressed the topic on multiple occasions, calling for AI development that respects the inherent dignity of every person.

Religious freedom advocates say the bishops' warning is timely. As AI capabilities expand, the risk that authoritarian governments will use them to crack down on minority religious communities is growing.