Surveillance

[skitty]

http://www.alternet.org/meet-contractors-turning-americas-police-paramilitary-force?page=0%2C0

"In many ways, that is the most important story of the post-9/11 United States: the complete evaporation of the separation of foreign and domestic polices. Whether we're talking about paramilitarized police, warrantless wiretapping, inhumane prison conditions, or drone surveillance, there exist few differences between a United States perpetually at war and a United States determined to police and imprison its people in unacceptable ways and at unacceptable rates."

Those of you with cell phones check out the Stingray IMSI catcher. Between all of this and climate change I'm having a really hard time picturing the world 10 years from now.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Yeah, I think that the technology of repression and control is the biggest worrying development of the modern age (along with climate change). I just wish there were a way to stop it and reverse it. It's like witnessing a horrific car crash that's about to happen in slow motion and realizing that it'll inevitably happen despite your best intentions. The problem is very simple: no one cares! Personally I'd rather live in a society where a terrorist attack (or whatever boogeyman the state is warning of) could perhaps happen, but also one where I was secure in my knowledge that the authorities could not violate my rights without serious suffering serious consequences.

[skitty]

"(or whatever boogeyman the state is warning of)"-With the biggest war-budget on the planet, and by expanding the definition of terrorist to include anyone who is unhappy with the state of affairs(and wants to do something about it!), I'm afraid the neolibs, or whoever is driving the bus, will get a compleat:( lock on everything.

[Klaatu]

"paramilitarized police, warrantless wiretapping, inhumane prison conditions, or drone surveillance"Gotta love the way conservatives lambasted our civil rights, and then go on to proclaim they support 'freedom and liberty' --- this is classic dictator M.O.

[Red Commissar]

I remember reading how some police departments are beginning to get heavy hardware and even surveillance drones in the US. LAPD used the latter in a case a few months back to get pictures of a drug operation in some guy's backyard. It's discouraging how we always have to see advances in technology co-opted for state enforcement. The article in the OP also lays out the different defense contractors- I saw a familiar face in L3- that have been involved with the military who are now scoring these lucrative contracts for municipal police. At the same time these cities are making cuts to public spending, they apparently have no problem with beefing up police surveillance.

The tough on crime bullshit never ceases to amaze me, more so how people think it's worth pursuing considering how prisons are overflowing now. The Judge Dredd strip is a dark humor/parody on these things in a way, it's interesting to see now how police are getting these surveillance powers. But the media keeps going on about "closed states" like North Korea while ignoring what's going on here because it's not as bad or whatever.

[skitty]

I remember reading how some police departments are beginning to get heavy hardware and even surveillance drones in the US. LAPD used the latter in a case a few months back to get pictures of a drug operation in some guy's backyard. It's discouraging how we always have to see advances in technology co-opted for state enforcement. The article in the OP also lays out the different defense contractors- I saw a familiar face in L3- that have been involved with the military who are now scoring these lucrative contracts for municipal police. At the same time these cities are making cuts to public spending, they apparently have no problem with beefing up police surveillance.

The tough on crime bullshit never ceases to amaze me, more so how people think it's worth pursuing considering how prisons are overflowing now. The Judge Dredd strip is a dark humor/parody on these things in a way, it's interesting to see now how police are getting these surveillance powers. But the media keeps going on about "closed states" like North Korea while ignoring what's going on here because it's not as bad or whatever.I recently saw something in the news about a police dept wheeling out all their new toys for public display and they crashed their new drone into their armored car! The creepy thing is the more money poured into drone contracts and privatised prisons means more money to buy polititians who will create demand for more drones and tougher laws to create more prisoners. The whole thing is self-fulfilling.

[o well this is ok I guess]

Yeah, I think that the technology of repression and control is the biggest worrying development of the modern age (along with climate change). I just wish there were a way to stop it and reverse it. It's like witnessing a horrific car crash that's about to happen in slow motion and realizing that it'll inevitably happen despite your best intentions. The problem is very simple: no one cares! Personally I'd rather live in a society where a terrorist attack (or whatever boogeyman the state is warning of) could perhaps happen, but also one where I was secure in my knowledge that the authorities could not violate my rights without serious suffering serious consequences.This technology has been developing since long before we were born, so there's little point in getting indignant.
Organizing isn't just building a conscious or movement or that shit. It's also about building tactics, lines of communication, etc etc. Something like a new piece or riot control gear or miniature cctv or whatever is only relevant as to how it can be overcome.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Dude they're developing technology to basically read your mind, to detect the "ping" in your brain when you recognize images. That shit wasn't being developed in the early 80's (which would've been before I was born).

[Os Cangaceiros]

Also why shouldn't I be indignant, even if it was in development for a long time? Shit's fucked up, man!

[bcbm]

Between all of this and climate change I'm having a really hard time picturing the world 10 years from now.

security states with high tech domestic counter-insurgency strategy involved in constant resource wars with each other and less well equipped proxy state and non-state forces while dealing with unimaginable humanitarian issues from refugee crises, increased natural disasters, massive crop failure, etc

[o well this is ok I guess]

Dude they're developing technology to basically read your mind, to detect the "ping" in your brain when you recognize images. That shit wasn't being developed in the early 80's (which would've been before I was born). I'm not saying that shits not freaky. But history is replete with examples of new technology being scary as shit. That does not mean they can't be undermined (for cheap!).
You shouldn't get indignant because you'll spend a great portion of your life learning about up and coming technologies dedicated to fucking your life up more so than it already is. And that's fucking depressing. What isn't depressing is finding out that most cameras cannot (yet (or can they?)) see through spray paint.
see what I'm getting at?