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What's the purpose of founding this kind of spying program? Do they expect to find Al'Quaida' sbire among the average joe?

buro9 13y ago
Facial recognition technology, combined with every camera on earth. They are laying the foundations for a 24/7 ubiquitous and always-on surveillance and tracking system. The ultimately goal might be to use very little resources (humans, drones, etc) yet achieve a near-omnipotent level of power and influence. If they are able to conflate many such methods and systems into one sense of intelligence, then their ability to target their resources effectively is increased significantly. Their priority isn't necessarily "you" as an individual, but it's "everyone" so they can make sure nothing slips through their net.
- touristtam 13y ago
  Sure, but in this end of the world, machine domination, and terminator like scenario, they still need to convince us to use a webcam and a mic on the computer.
  - buro9 13y ago
    Two things: 1) They grabbed these images just to test their image recognition. 2) Earlier leaks have already shown that cameras and microphones can be accessed without user knowledge, and earlier defects in products show that the light does not always come on for cameras. You're imagining that they will ask for consent. They will not. You are equipping yourself with a lot of sensors in a network connected device, and to this they simply say "Thank you". Or would, except they're not going to say anything.
tripzilch 13y ago
the more I hear about this, the more I have to think it's just "because they're evil" and "because they can".
wfn 13y ago
> What's the purpose of founding this kind of spying program? Do they expect to find Al'Quaida' sbire among the average joe? I would suggest to finally drop the premise implied in these kinds of questions / indignation / etc.: that there's an actual purpose/principle (related in some or other way to the greater good and so on) which these systems are founded upon. I really think that there is no such thing. As cliche as it sounds, I believe it's simply about power (and power breeding more power, and all that.) This is the kind of framework which in some sense is at least meaningful and fruitful for discussion. Any moral ground on their side is a mere facade/veil/pretext (including for some level of self-deception/rationalization, sure), but its existence and use is purely instrumental.
rasz_pl 13y ago
You have porntube, they have this.

buro9 13y ago

Facial recognition technology, combined with every camera on earth. They are laying the foundations for a 24/7 ubiquitous and always-on surveillance and tracking system. The ultimately goal might be to use very little resources (humans, drones, etc) yet achieve a near-omnipotent level of power and influence. If they are able to conflate many such methods and systems into one sense of intelligence, then their ability to target their resources effectively is increased significantly. Their priority isn't necessarily "you" as an individual, but it's "everyone" so they can make sure nothing slips through their net.

touristtam 13y ago
Sure, but in this end of the world, machine domination, and terminator like scenario, they still need to convince us to use a webcam and a mic on the computer.
- buro9 13y ago
  Two things: 1) They grabbed these images just to test their image recognition. 2) Earlier leaks have already shown that cameras and microphones can be accessed without user knowledge, and earlier defects in products show that the light does not always come on for cameras. You're imagining that they will ask for consent. They will not. You are equipping yourself with a lot of sensors in a network connected device, and to this they simply say "Thank you". Or would, except they're not going to say anything.

tripzilch 13y ago

the more I hear about this, the more I have to think it's just "because they're evil" and "because they can".

wfn 13y ago

> What's the purpose of founding this kind of spying program? Do they expect to find Al'Quaida' sbire among the average joe? I would suggest to finally drop the premise implied in these kinds of questions / indignation / etc.: that there's an actual purpose/principle (related in some or other way to the greater good and so on) which these systems are founded upon. I really think that there is no such thing. As cliche as it sounds, I believe it's simply about power (and power breeding more power, and all that.) This is the kind of framework which in some sense is at least meaningful and fruitful for discussion. Any moral ground on their side is a mere facade/veil/pretext (including for some level of self-deception/rationalization, sure), but its existence and use is purely instrumental.

rasz_pl 13y ago

You have porntube, they have this.