From COINTELPRO to the IRS: How Government Surveillance Continues to Target Black Americans and Political Dissent

For decades, the machinery of American government has too often been turned inward—used not just to protect the public, but to monitor, intimidate, and silence those who challenge injustice, especially when those challengers are Black.

This is not a matter of speculation or conspiracy—it is a matter of historical record.

The Legacy of Surveillance: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X

In the 1960s, the FBI’s covert program known as COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) actively spied on, disrupted, and attempted to discredit civil rights leaders. Among its most targeted figures were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X—two men who, despite their differing philosophies, were seen as threats to the status quo.

King, whose advocacy for nonviolence and racial equality reshaped American consciousness, was relentlessly surveilled. The FBI wiretapped his phones, bugged his hotel rooms, and compiled dossiers on his personal life. In one of the most egregious acts, the Bureau anonymously sent him a letter implying that he should commit suicide, referring to it as a "solution" to avoiding public disgrace over alleged personal affairs—an attempt to derail his leadership through fear and humiliation.

Malcolm X was also a central target of surveillance, viewed by the FBI as a radical threat due to his vocal condemnation of white supremacy and U.S. imperialism. His speeches, movements, and associations were closely tracked. The Bureau infiltrated organizations like the Nation of Islam and later, Malcolm’s Organization of Afro-American Unity, attempting to sow discord and gather intelligence. This surveillance extended to those around him, creating a web of distrust and tension that persists in historical interpretations of his assassination.

These weren't isolated cases. They were part of a broader strategy: to use the power of the state to destabilize Black leadership and suppress political movements advocating for racial and economic justice.

The Modern Echo: Algorithmic Audits and Political Surveillance

Fast forward to the 21st century, and while the tools may have changed, the patterns remain disturbingly familiar.

A recent investigation by Stanford University and the Treasury Department revealed that Black Americans are audited by the IRS at significantly higher rates than white taxpayers—up to five times more frequently in some cases. The disparity stems not from any conscious bias of individual agents, but from algorithmic systems that disproportionately flag lower-income returns and categories of deductions more common in Black communities.

In other words, machine learning models—trained on biased data and operating in opaque systems—have become the new agents of state surveillance and economic pressure. This modern version of profiling doesn’t need microphones in hotel rooms. It uses math, code, and bureaucracy to enforce systemic inequity.

At the same time, we’ve seen a revival of politically motivated surveillance and targeting under the Trump administration. Reports emerged that government officials sought to track and monitor protesters, journalists, and political opponents. Notably, the administration subpoenaed records from journalists and members of Congress, and there were efforts to criminalize dissent during the George Floyd protests, echoing the same tactics used to undermine civil rights activists decades earlier. These patterns matter because they are not just about past abuses—they are about power. When the government uses surveillance and enforcement unequally—based on race, ideology, or income—it undermines democracy at its core.

Where Do We Go from Here?

The first step is recognition: understanding that these systems, whether manual or digital, do not operate in a vacuum. They are shaped by the same racial and political dynamics that have long defined American power.

But reform is not just about fixing systems—it’s about changing values. The leaders who were spied on in the 1960s asked America to be better than its institutions. Dr. King said it most plainly: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Whether it’s through wiretaps, tax audits, or digital surveillance, the message is the same: dissent must be protected, not punished. And the law must serve the people—all people—not the preservation of power.