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Once neuralink-like devices become ubiquitous, they will ask for a "kill switch" in people's brain. And the same HN users on this thread will say that's not su

Once neuralink-like devices become ubiquitous, they will ask for a "kill switch" in people's brain. And the same HN users on this thread will say that's not such a big deal. Law enforcers can already track people and arrest them physically, that's just a faster way to do that. But no, it's bonkers. And yes, a kill switch in cars is bonkers. You want to stop a car? You should do that manually because: - it requires efforts and has a high cost, for something that should not be common - it implies skin in the game - it's very hard to mass scale - it's not nearly has much subject to hacking, corporate abuses, rogue cops, dirty politicians or bugs - you can throttle things like speed and capabilities from the car, no need for a kill switch The fact that some people here even debates that shows how much we are screwed. A significant part of our population, even the educated and smart one as this thread demonstrates, cannot think in a way that will lead to maintain a decent amount freedom given a enough time. You could never, you cannot, and you will never be able to assume benevolence and competence from the people in power. Their power must always be restricted, for us to keep being free on the long run. It's not a matter of morality. It's causality at work. But sure, the biggest problem is that "it's a not violation of privacy". And sure, it's just "for impaired drivers". Just like the patriot act was only temporary, right?

outime 3y ago
>The fact that some people here even debates that shows how much we are screwed. It's really sad to see that even after centuries of countless examples about how the authorities of the time will end up abusing any power that's granted to them there's still people (even a majority of people) who think it'll be different this time as opposed to our whole known human history. We surely are doomed to repeat the same mistakes again and again and again.
- rsync 3y ago
  "... who think it'll be different this time as opposed to our whole known human history." You give them too much credit. I don't think they believe it will be "different this time". They believe: "This time it will be done on my behalf".
sennight 3y ago
... and this is why it is disconcerting that anyone else has any amount of influence in your life under a democracy. Half of everyone has a below average IQ, and many of those on the other side of the curve are just awful.
- wincy 3y ago
  Smart people are the ones who made nukes and all this tech. Definitely people worth being suspicious of for sure. Don’t kid yourself thinking that intelligence is some magical panacea that makes people moral.
  - sennight 3y ago
    I'd take malice over stupidity - because at least it can be anticipated. If you were being charged with a crime you didn't commit, would you prefer that half the jury believe in ghosts and flying saucers - or a smaller fraction just be plotting on you?
lioeters 3y ago
> cannot think in a way that will lead to maintain a decent amount freedom given a enough time I think it's because of the power imbalance between the state/corporation and the public. Those who seek to control have the resources, including an army of educated and smart people, to persistently push forward on their agenda, lobbying to shape laws, and mass media to shape the public opinion. They own the mainstream narrative, what is discussed and how. We might fend off this particular attempt at further restricting our freedoms, but it's guaranteed they will try again and again, each time the gear of their infernal machine turns like a ratchet.

outime 3y ago

>The fact that some people here even debates that shows how much we are screwed. It's really sad to see that even after centuries of countless examples about how the authorities of the time will end up abusing any power that's granted to them there's still people (even a majority of people) who think it'll be different this time as opposed to our whole known human history. We surely are doomed to repeat the same mistakes again and again and again.

rsync 3y ago
"... who think it'll be different this time as opposed to our whole known human history." You give them too much credit. I don't think they believe it will be "different this time". They believe: "This time it will be done on my behalf".

sennight 3y ago

... and this is why it is disconcerting that anyone else has any amount of influence in your life under a democracy. Half of everyone has a below average IQ, and many of those on the other side of the curve are just awful.

wincy 3y ago
Smart people are the ones who made nukes and all this tech. Definitely people worth being suspicious of for sure. Don’t kid yourself thinking that intelligence is some magical panacea that makes people moral.
- sennight 3y ago
  I'd take malice over stupidity - because at least it can be anticipated. If you were being charged with a crime you didn't commit, would you prefer that half the jury believe in ghosts and flying saucers - or a smaller fraction just be plotting on you?

lioeters 3y ago

> cannot think in a way that will lead to maintain a decent amount freedom given a enough time I think it's because of the power imbalance between the state/corporation and the public. Those who seek to control have the resources, including an army of educated and smart people, to persistently push forward on their agenda, lobbying to shape laws, and mass media to shape the public opinion. They own the mainstream narrative, what is discussed and how. We might fend off this particular attempt at further restricting our freedoms, but it's guaranteed they will try again and again, each time the gear of their infernal machine turns like a ratchet.