>> Is it possible to have a free society that's completely surveilled? >It is, if a society's ethical and legal code and how its members actually behave are cl

>> Is it possible to have a free society that's completely surveilled? >It is, if a society's ethical and legal code and how its members actually behave are closely aligned (which prevents blackmail), surveillance is done by all to all, and the government has limited ability to arrest and prosecute. Anonymity and privacy would still have to be respected for it to work. While I believe that this is possible (just finishing up first draft of my first novel, a scifi that looks at this) it's not going to be achieved by legislating our way to it (or that it'll even originate from our governments). The main thing I think to point out is that individuals shouldn't be the ones we're keeping eyes on. Governments, corporations, charities, religions, and unions - basically any group of people - is where we should be demanding complete transparency, and surveillance by all.