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It's the other way around: The criticism of these tech companies and surveillance practices often comes from developers. Organisations like the EFF or the whole

by onli 5y ago

It's the other way around: The criticism of these tech companies and surveillance practices often comes from developers. Organisations like the EFF or the whole crypto anarchist thing is carried by developers. In Germany, data privacy and security is a core topic of the CCC, which is originally a hacker organization. When I refused to get a ID card with a chip in it, the women at the other side of the table asked me why all the people refusing them are computer scientists like me ("Because we know how the systems are made").

SCNP 5y ago
This is the problem with distilling any group of people into a monoculture. The only true fact you can get from grouping people into the collective term of "developers" is the fact that they write software. This occupation/hobby says nothing about the values that they hold. Developers make malware and also anti-malware. The group as a whole works both sides of all of these issues. I hope I'm not putting it too harshly but you're both wrong and you're both right. Edit to add: you also don't need to be a developer to understand the issue and advocate for either side.
- onli 5y ago
  No worries, not too harsh. You are right in general, it's too huge a group. However, I still think it's right that the most poignant and relevant criticism comes from developers and people that work in the core of IT. The CCC was really a prime example of that, or just take Snowden.
cryptonector 5y ago
I know plenty of developers who decried the surveillance state before covid, but who now gush about information-rich vaccine QR code passports and what not. "Such cool information!" I heard one say. I think most developers who didn't care for the surveillance state in 2019 just don't mind it now. Me? I accept that everything we do online leaves a huge metadata trail. Same as in meatspace. So much metadata as to be sufficient for all legitimate state interests and then some. But only the metadata should be available w/o warrants -- same as in meatspace.

by onli 5y ago

SCNP 5y ago

This is the problem with distilling any group of people into a monoculture. The only true fact you can get from grouping people into the collective term of "developers" is the fact that they write software. This occupation/hobby says nothing about the values that they hold. Developers make malware and also anti-malware. The group as a whole works both sides of all of these issues. I hope I'm not putting it too harshly but you're both wrong and you're both right. Edit to add: you also don't need to be a developer to understand the issue and advocate for either side.

onli 5y ago
No worries, not too harsh. You are right in general, it's too huge a group. However, I still think it's right that the most poignant and relevant criticism comes from developers and people that work in the core of IT. The CCC was really a prime example of that, or just take Snowden.

cryptonector 5y ago

I know plenty of developers who decried the surveillance state before covid, but who now gush about information-rich vaccine QR code passports and what not. "Such cool information!" I heard one say. I think most developers who didn't care for the surveillance state in 2019 just don't mind it now. Me? I accept that everything we do online leaves a huge metadata trail. Same as in meatspace. So much metadata as to be sufficient for all legitimate state interests and then some. But only the metadata should be available w/o warrants -- same as in meatspace.