> legislation and law enforcement exists to modify incentives in cases where altruism, self-interest and a sense of social responsibility are insufficient to ke

> legislation and law enforcement exists to modify incentives in cases where altruism, self-interest and a sense of social responsibility are insufficient to keep order. Here's an argument I've read many times. Within a few decades technological advances might bring us to a point where a handful of people can cause truly extraordinary destruction. Modern law enforcement and intelligence is not designed to deal with damage capabilities on that scale. If we want the society to remain free of overwhelming surveillance, we must hope that another mechanism will emerge to counter that risk. What do you think such a "social preservation" mechanism might look like?