The Anti-Defamation League's chief executive has disclosed that the organisation employs analysts working round the clock to monitor online extremists and shares the resulting intelligence with the FBI.
Jonathan Greenblatt made the remarks at a synagogue event in Los Angeles, outlining an extensive surveillance operation that tracks activity across social media, messaging apps, video games, cryptocurrency platforms, podcasts, short-form video, Wikipedia and large language models.
The ADL's operation involves what Greenblatt called a 'whole apparatus' dedicated to measuring, tracking and disrupting extremist activity. He highlighted the 40 analysts working full-time, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, a detail that drew particular attention online. The group also trains thousands of law enforcement officers annually on recognising and addressing hate and extremism.
Greenblatt noted that the ADL remains one of the largest non-governmental trainers of police in the United States in this field, with around 20,000 officers receiving instruction each year. Such collaborations with the FBI are longstanding, dating back to at least the 1970s, when the ADL begansharing information from its monitoring of extremist groups with federal field offices.
He described the effort as part of the ADL's broader work to counter antisemitism and other forms of hate, stating that the group monitors extremists across the ideological spectrum, including left-wing radicals, pro-Palestine activists, Christian nationalists and right-wing radicals.
'We monitor these people, and we share the intelligence with the FBI,' Greenblatt said. The comments, which surfaced widely on social media in January 2026, have prompted renewed debate over the boundaries between combating hate and potential overreach into free expression.
In recent years, the organisation has positioned itself as a key resource for identifying threats ranging from white supremacists to other ideologically motivated actors. The intelligence-sharing arrangement allows the ADL to pass along findings from itsonline surveillance, which operates without the same constitutional constraints that bind law enforcement agencies.
Critics have questioned whether the scope of monitoring risks conflating legitimate political dissent with extremism, particularly given the inclusion of pro-Palestine and anti-war activists in Greenblatt's list. Supporters argue that the work is essential in an era whenonline platforms accelerate the spread of hate, as evidenced by spikes in antisemitic incidents documented by the ADL itself.
A post from the verified X account@DaizyGedeon, which shared a clip of Greenblatt's remarks, amplified the statement to thousands, framing it as evidence of broad digital surveillance.
“I HAVE 40 ANALYSTS WORKING 24 HOURS A DAY.”Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League, says his team monitors online activity across social media, crypto platforms, and messaging apps — tracking antisemitism and extremist threats.#DigitalSurveillance#ADFpic.twitter.com/rKsaZges5i
Source: International Business Times UK
