3 ms·

"In the age of digital wonders, more than ever we are dependent upon the vigilance of citizens of conscience to protect us against Orwellian scenarios of those

by smackay 13y ago

"In the age of digital wonders, more than ever we are dependent upon the vigilance of citizens of conscience to protect us against Orwellian scenarios of those many wannabe Darth Vadors lurking in the murky depths of the governmental bureaucracy..." This is probably the most sober assessment of the current situation which is both optimistic and depressing simultaneously. The technology has reached a point to make a snooper's wildest dreams come true but at the same time there are more and more ways to get information about wrong-doing out into the open and to discuss it which hopefully results in action to correct it. The awkward part of the Surveillance Age is that permanent vigilance is very difficult to sustain and any lapse or general complacency will be immediately taken advantage of. Keeping governments in check now appears to be a 24/7 task.

drunkenmasta 13y ago
you know what would be extremely helpful? If a reading list was put together concerning how citizens could become better at vigilance, information gathering, investigative journalism, etc. By complaining I feel like I am a spectator in matters not under my control. By learning and applying new knowledge I feel as if I am actively protecting myself and my ideals. So where would I start? Ethics? Psychology? Investigative journalism?
- atondwal 13y ago
  stallman.org may not train you with all the skills you need to do investigative journalism and uncover conspiracy, but it _does_ cover the bare minimum you should do before you get started. rms has been telling us for decades that hackers needed to get our act together politically, and it seems like this is the last "I told you so" he needs to finally get us to start looking.
fetbaffe 13y ago
"The technology has reached a point to make a snooper's wildest dreams come true but at the same time there are more and more ways to get information about wrong-doing out into the open and to discuss it which hopefully results in action to correct it." Yes, but the cost for the whistle blower is everything while Darth Vader gets promoted.
nikster 13y ago
Maybe I am an eternal optimist but in my opinion, it's impossible to keep all that crazy stuff under wraps for long - information wants to be free, and it will get out one way or another. The USA is in a very bad situation thanks to the media's lock-step with the government, and all is controlled by big business. You'd think there is no way out. But at the same time, certain rights like the right to free speech do not go away. In times of great despair, great help arrives. This is why I think new channels of communication apart from TV and newspapers will arise. New channels that will not be owned by big business. HN readers will probably laugh at the notion - hey, maybe the ...internet? Yeah I know - but it seems like mass media still has a huge influence and, now, in 2013, still defines "public opinion". What's on TV is what's true. We have all the tech to change that, and I think it will change. Even though it hasn't so far. Some new way of determining AND making the public opinion will arise. I look forward to it (and if I can help enable it, I will)
- fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
  >Maybe I am an eternal optimist but in my opinion, it's impossible to keep all that crazy stuff under wraps for long It was kept under wraps for a long time. Those IRS training materials which mentioned DEA/SOD intercepts were from 2005-2007. Each of the little pieces needed to understand what's going on has been available for a long time, but we all collectively failed to put it together[1]. >In times of great despair, great help arrives. In comic books. [1] Some of of us managed to put it together, but they were crazy tinfoil-hat types.
- enraged_camel 13y ago
  >>Maybe I am an eternal optimist but in my opinion, it's impossible to keep all that crazy stuff under wraps for long It just needs to be kept under wraps long enough. After that, momentum takes care of the rest. I do believe that we are past the event horizon on the subject of surveillance, and things will only get worse from here.

by smackay 13y ago

drunkenmasta 13y ago

you know what would be extremely helpful? If a reading list was put together concerning how citizens could become better at vigilance, information gathering, investigative journalism, etc. By complaining I feel like I am a spectator in matters not under my control. By learning and applying new knowledge I feel as if I am actively protecting myself and my ideals. So where would I start? Ethics? Psychology? Investigative journalism?

atondwal 13y ago
stallman.org may not train you with all the skills you need to do investigative journalism and uncover conspiracy, but it _does_ cover the bare minimum you should do before you get started. rms has been telling us for decades that hackers needed to get our act together politically, and it seems like this is the last "I told you so" he needs to finally get us to start looking.

fetbaffe 13y ago

"The technology has reached a point to make a snooper's wildest dreams come true but at the same time there are more and more ways to get information about wrong-doing out into the open and to discuss it which hopefully results in action to correct it." Yes, but the cost for the whistle blower is everything while Darth Vader gets promoted.

nikster 13y ago

Maybe I am an eternal optimist but in my opinion, it's impossible to keep all that crazy stuff under wraps for long - information wants to be free, and it will get out one way or another. The USA is in a very bad situation thanks to the media's lock-step with the government, and all is controlled by big business. You'd think there is no way out. But at the same time, certain rights like the right to free speech do not go away. In times of great despair, great help arrives. This is why I think new channels of communication apart from TV and newspapers will arise. New channels that will not be owned by big business. HN readers will probably laugh at the notion - hey, maybe the ...internet? Yeah I know - but it seems like mass media still has a huge influence and, now, in 2013, still defines "public opinion". What's on TV is what's true. We have all the tech to change that, and I think it will change. Even though it hasn't so far. Some new way of determining AND making the public opinion will arise. I look forward to it (and if I can help enable it, I will)

fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
>Maybe I am an eternal optimist but in my opinion, it's impossible to keep all that crazy stuff under wraps for long It was kept under wraps for a long time. Those IRS training materials which mentioned DEA/SOD intercepts were from 2005-2007. Each of the little pieces needed to understand what's going on has been available for a long time, but we all collectively failed to put it together[1]. >In times of great despair, great help arrives. In comic books. [1] Some of of us managed to put it together, but they were crazy tinfoil-hat types.
enraged_camel 13y ago
>>Maybe I am an eternal optimist but in my opinion, it's impossible to keep all that crazy stuff under wraps for long It just needs to be kept under wraps long enough. After that, momentum takes care of the rest. I do believe that we are past the event horizon on the subject of surveillance, and things will only get worse from here.