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Please point out any previous attempts to build ubiquitous international surveillance systems that intercept trillions of private communications. I'll grant th
by danenania 13y ago
Please point out any previous attempts to build ubiquitous international surveillance systems that intercept trillions of private communications.
I'll grant that if you include science fiction novels, there are a few contenders.
- fauigerzigerk 13y agoI agree with you that this extent of surveillance is a characteristic element of totalitarian regimes. But the things that totalitarian regimes do with the data they collect is different from what happens in the US right now (as far as I can tell). All totalitarian regimes used broad surveillance, but not all countries that have overly broad surveillance programs are totalitarian. What's missing is the desire for total control of many different aspects of life and political activity. However, I think that there is a great danger that "total information awareness" leads to an ever greater desire for total control. That desire may even come from the people and have superficial democratic legitimacy. If everyone knows that the government knows everything, the people will demand control over many things that other people do.