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"We can do better. Our freedom from unlawful public surveillance is worth fighting for." Is it though? the talk about privacy often ignores what lack of privac

"We can do better. Our freedom from unlawful public surveillance is worth fighting for." Is it though? the talk about privacy often ignores what lack of privacy could potentially mean. A fully covered surveillance state with proper AI and fast respondent police can get rid of entire types of crimes entirely. Burglary, Rubbery, Kidnapping, stranger rape, many types of violent outside crimes. There is obviously a problem with abuse of power and trust, but that exists with all types of government action, more so with enforcement, would you not give up your privacy so that you don't need to lock your door anymore? letting your kid go play without chaperones? Not to mention such arguments as the immense convenience of everything being connected and knowing who you are.

feistypharit 8y ago
I think the problem is exactly what you mentioned: abuse. Corruption is a hard, unsolved problem. If we had a solution for corruption, I'd be all for everything being connected. But we don't, not even close. Historically, we know detailed information about people is very useful to anyone in power that has a problem with those people.
nkrisc 8y ago
> Is it though? the talk about privacy often ignores what lack of privacy could potentially mean. A fully covered surveillance state with proper AI and fast respondent police can get rid of entire types of crimes entirely. Burglary, Rubbery, Kidnapping, stranger rape, many types of violent outside crimes. You're missing some crimes from your list: being part of a minority political party, disparaging the ruling party, expressing dissent, failing to adhere to formalized social norms, being an "undesirable". I could go on. No, these are not crimes today. But if the apparatus you describe was in place, they could easily be made crimes and you couldn't stop it. Because the moment you tried, you'd be whisked away.
algem 8y ago
We have already traded enough freedom for security. We wage war in the name of liberation and freedom and we turn around and do the opposite at home. This trade has diminishing returns and to me the gains are quite low. Just look at China and Russia. Are these the societies we should strive for? And in regards to this particular project... why doesn’t google do this in their own country, let’s see how it would play out in their own backyard.

feistypharit 8y ago

I think the problem is exactly what you mentioned: abuse. Corruption is a hard, unsolved problem. If we had a solution for corruption, I'd be all for everything being connected. But we don't, not even close. Historically, we know detailed information about people is very useful to anyone in power that has a problem with those people.

nkrisc 8y ago

> Is it though? the talk about privacy often ignores what lack of privacy could potentially mean. A fully covered surveillance state with proper AI and fast respondent police can get rid of entire types of crimes entirely. Burglary, Rubbery, Kidnapping, stranger rape, many types of violent outside crimes. You're missing some crimes from your list: being part of a minority political party, disparaging the ruling party, expressing dissent, failing to adhere to formalized social norms, being an "undesirable". I could go on. No, these are not crimes today. But if the apparatus you describe was in place, they could easily be made crimes and you couldn't stop it. Because the moment you tried, you'd be whisked away.

algem 8y ago

We have already traded enough freedom for security. We wage war in the name of liberation and freedom and we turn around and do the opposite at home. This trade has diminishing returns and to me the gains are quite low. Just look at China and Russia. Are these the societies we should strive for? And in regards to this particular project... why doesn’t google do this in their own country, let’s see how it would play out in their own backyard.