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mk  ·  3943 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: I live in a Surveillance State

Yes. Institutions and operating procedures develop around these new technologies and resources. At first they serve the intended purpose, but over time they become increasingly bureaucratic and inflexible. In time the needs and actions of the society drifts away from the functional effect of these institutions, and well before these systems change, people must bend to their design. In the US, this is exacerbated by the influence of lobbying in the political process. You can see varying degrees of this in the US penal system (particularly its influence on drug and immigration law), in the military complex, in agriculture, and in copyright and patent law. In short, the system and the laws to support it no longer reflect a desired reality except for those that have political power in the sector. However, what’s most troubling about this new complex, is the nature of it. By design, this surveillance complex will have tools to protect itself that others do not. As an example, journalists have had a very difficult time challenging this surveillance, as they must first prove that they have been adversely affected by it. However, the information they require to prove it is secret and cannot be used in court.