4 ms·

The example actually sounds quite amazing. There's much simpler ways (that are already in use, btw.) to "steal" people's identities. Smartphones and CCTV camer

by qayxc 5y ago

The example actually sounds quite amazing. There's much simpler ways (that are already in use, btw.) to "steal" people's identities. Smartphones and CCTV cameras are much more effective sources of information than a smart billboard anyway. Smart billboards, however, sound quite awesome.

gmueckl 5y ago
You have to consider who the collected data is available to. CCTV in public spaces is usually the domain of law enforcement and thus the related data is available to law enforcement and potentially other government agencies, but not normally to private companies. A smart billboard and related data would be owned by a private company who may go on and process and sell it behind your back. It's complex. Computing and related tech is an enabler of so many new possible applications. It has become really tough to develop something useful for consumers that can be commercially successful, but doesn't at least have the potential to be turned into something creepy.
- macinjosh 5y ago
  It is unnerving how many people are OK with governments using surveillance tech but draw the line with private corporations. At the end of the day they are just organizations made up of fallible humans. Either using advanced surveillance technology worries me deeply. Corporations have an increased ability to do things w/o oversight, but the government can literally do whatever it wants when it wants as long as those in power allow it. Government has the monopoly on power and violence. This concern is increased even more in democracies where there is great division. One side can abuse government to enforce their aims on an unwilling opposing side. Additionally, corporations generally just want to make money so they are fairly predictable and easy to contain (i.e take your business somewhere else if you don't want to deal with them). Government operates at the beck and call of political whims which, let's face it, are more often than not emotional and knee-jerk reactions. Lastly, only government can make it illegal to avoid surveillance and put you in jail for it. The worst a corp can do is close your account or something.
  - gmueckl 5y ago
    You're not wrong about whims of governments. But that doesn't mean that companies are more predictable or controllable. Both types of organizations have their own ways in which they can screw you. Anyway, I think this is getting too far from the actual topic here. I'll leave it at that.

by qayxc 5y ago

gmueckl 5y ago

You have to consider who the collected data is available to. CCTV in public spaces is usually the domain of law enforcement and thus the related data is available to law enforcement and potentially other government agencies, but not normally to private companies. A smart billboard and related data would be owned by a private company who may go on and process and sell it behind your back. It's complex. Computing and related tech is an enabler of so many new possible applications. It has become really tough to develop something useful for consumers that can be commercially successful, but doesn't at least have the potential to be turned into something creepy.

macinjosh 5y ago
It is unnerving how many people are OK with governments using surveillance tech but draw the line with private corporations. At the end of the day they are just organizations made up of fallible humans. Either using advanced surveillance technology worries me deeply. Corporations have an increased ability to do things w/o oversight, but the government can literally do whatever it wants when it wants as long as those in power allow it. Government has the monopoly on power and violence. This concern is increased even more in democracies where there is great division. One side can abuse government to enforce their aims on an unwilling opposing side. Additionally, corporations generally just want to make money so they are fairly predictable and easy to contain (i.e take your business somewhere else if you don't want to deal with them). Government operates at the beck and call of political whims which, let's face it, are more often than not emotional and knee-jerk reactions. Lastly, only government can make it illegal to avoid surveillance and put you in jail for it. The worst a corp can do is close your account or something.
- gmueckl 5y ago
  You're not wrong about whims of governments. But that doesn't mean that companies are more predictable or controllable. Both types of organizations have their own ways in which they can screw you. Anyway, I think this is getting too far from the actual topic here. I'll leave it at that.