> They really can't go after US citizens.

Developing a technology, if it's not kept strictly contained (and honestly, who thinks that's really possible), means that it can be uses by others and for purposes not originally intended.

This isn't a "don't make it, it will only lead to problems" stance, as I think it's going to come about no matter what, but I think it's naive of us to assume it won't make it's way into use in some way against us as well. In this case it's fairly simple to see happening. Company that develops this creates separate division with talent from this program (or they leave to form separate company), and they market this in a way that it is used by some company/state against US citizens. We should just assume that at this point.

You have more faith in the US government than I do. I could see them finding out that there exists, for example, a campaign by global adversaries to spread vaccine misinformation. It's an easy step for them to start gathering and investigating all anti-vaccine posts with a certain size following on social media networks whether they are posted by a US citizen or not, in order to determine if they are related. Sure, the military can't act against US citizens directly, but they could easily hand them off to the FBI, who can.

I'll wait and see, though, I guess. It will be interesting to see what "misinformation" they decide to go after first. It's not liking choosing their target could be easily abused or anything.

Hand them off to the FBI and then what?

The FBI creates a group, invites all of them to join, proposes a terror plot, arrests all of them for being in a terror group, and pats themselves on the back for another job well done.

Posting anti-vax material isn't illegal. If they find actual illegal material like promoting violence or insurrection, then great because that's a punishable crime.

> Posting anti-vax material isn't illegal.

Not yet.