The only reason we have mass surveillance is because we don’t have a way to surveil only those who should be surveilled. But I agree, once there’s a way to do so, mass surveillance will end in favor of highly targeted surveillance.
Remember there are enough laws that no one is in compliance with all of them. That leaves anyone unpopular at risk of retaliation. Therefore, the more data points you have on an opponent, the more control you have.
I'm not the commenter you asked, but I'm saying we don't know, we cannot easily know and we shouldn't bring ourselves into a position where we even have to ask.
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The only reason we have mass surveillance is because we don’t have a way to surveil only those who should be surveilled. But I agree, once there’s a way to do so, mass surveillance will end in favor of highly targeted surveillance.
This is only if you believe that dragnet surveillance is not done on purpose, in order to control the masses.
Control the masses to do what exactly?
Control elections, establish favourable policies, silence influential thinkers going against the popular order.
What not to do is the better way to pose the question.
Ok. Not to do what?
Not inconvenience those in power.
Remember there are enough laws that no one is in compliance with all of them. That leaves anyone unpopular at risk of retaliation. Therefore, the more data points you have on an opponent, the more control you have.
Are you saying that citizens with a mind to criticize an administration/senator/whatever are regularly blackmailed into refraining from doing that?
Blackmailed? No need. Retaliated against, punished, neutralized, ruined, stalked? Often.
- https://whistleblowersofamerica.org/2019/04/01/what-is-whist...
- https://whistleblower.org/timeline-us-whistleblowers/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRS_targeting_controversy
- https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/43kxzq/dmvs-selling-data-...
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LOVEINT
- https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danielwagner/she-told-t...
- https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-us-government-employee...
Think you're safe at home?
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Ridge
Think it is new?
- https://theconversation.com/j-edgar-hoovers-revenge-informat...
I'm not the commenter you asked, but I'm saying we don't know, we cannot easily know and we shouldn't bring ourselves into a position where we even have to ask.