It is hard not to feel uncomfortable with such a powerful tool for monitoring citizens. In the service of a benevolent state no doubt it can provide significant benefits, especially for crime prevention. However not all states are benevolent, and China's stance particularly towards its dissidents has been far from benevolent. With such tools the modern autocratic state can have unprecedented control of its citizens. A nightmarish scenario.
Thursday, 14 December 2017
China's all seeing eyes
Given recent Aussie predilections about China's attempts at political influence this short BBC video exposing China's all-seeing surveillance of its own citizens is worth a look.
It is hard not to feel uncomfortable with such a powerful tool for monitoring citizens. In the service of a benevolent state no doubt it can provide significant benefits, especially for crime prevention. However not all states are benevolent, and China's stance particularly towards its dissidents has been far from benevolent. With such tools the modern autocratic state can have unprecedented control of its citizens. A nightmarish scenario.
It is hard not to feel uncomfortable with such a powerful tool for monitoring citizens. In the service of a benevolent state no doubt it can provide significant benefits, especially for crime prevention. However not all states are benevolent, and China's stance particularly towards its dissidents has been far from benevolent. With such tools the modern autocratic state can have unprecedented control of its citizens. A nightmarish scenario.
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