I don't get the point of half-cynicism. The fully cynical take is that this is just another inevitability in a long line of gradual steps of the unaccountable s

I don't get the point of half-cynicism. The fully cynical take is that this is just another inevitability in a long line of gradual steps of the unaccountable surveillance-industrial complex infiltrating our lives, having neutralized whatever democratic oversight there might have been via manufactured consent. But the overall comment thread isn't just taking the development as a forgone conclusion and talking about technical mitigations, but rather still judging it on what ought to be. As such, I think it's worthwhile to point out that there is another straightforward approach that preserves individual liberty rather than undermining it. And back in the cynical context, this approach seemingly not being on the table is another data point supporting the cynicism.