Re: [silk] No Hiding Place | 1984 in 2001

[Eugene Leitl <Eugene.Leitl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, I *am* worried, though local authorities have not yet followed
Albion, who certainly went Big Brother in a big way. I periodically
lament about this on a few list, but it somehow never occured to me
to mention this on silk.

Brin be damned, it's clear that ubiquitous video surveillance coupled with
biometrics and data warehousing is a tool way too powerful, and bound to
be abused eventually, possibly with terrible consequences.

For a sneak preview where we might be heading, I recommend reading "A
Deepness in the Sky" by Vernor Vinge. I only hope that this technology
will be abused early and heavily, and cause a severe backlash,
sensibilizing everybody for a long time.