Given the rapidly declining state of individual privacy, when discussing these extensions it helps to be specific about the authorized agency and context. For example, these days, it's pretty much a given that NSA-type spy agencies are already getting all of whatever electronic communications they want with little friction. In the US there are certain supposed safeguards against surveilling US citizens domestically but we've already seen how quickly and easily these have been circumvented by using partner 'five eyes' agencies and commercial data brokers.
While this is obviously problematic, to me, it's even worse if domestic law enforcement agencies gain new ways to remove friction like warrant requirements or at least the need to make specific per-instance requests (which are possible to (in theory) be tracked and reviewed to detect over-use and abuse). The idea of domestic law enforcement agencies gaining access to "full take" feeds of everything enabling them to retrospectively build massive connection trees of metadata which can be searched is downright terrifying.
Good insight. The difference between the NSA and local cops is that the NSA won't be looking for some bullshit to use as an excuse to arrest or harass you.
And journalists, and people that see something and may want to wristleblow, and people that know commercial secrets (yes, they've been caught doing commercial spying). There are more categories here.
And, of course, there's always the danger that the one random person that you didn't see eye to eye earlier just happens to work there.
they dragnet surveil to build an increasingly accurate stockpile of data on an increasing number of people. everything is catalogued and filed away, nothing is discarded. at some point in the past or future, this data has been/will be weaponized via ML and used in the best interest of whomever controls it (the government), not in the best interest of the surveilled masses. this is why it is important to care about your privacy on the internet.
While your presentation is probably getting you downvoted, this is the real problem. They use this information to control/influence government officials or people with power.
Unless you’re a journalist publishing information about the federal government that they don’t like. Then they’ll imprison you indefinitely without trial.
The bar is higher for them to wield “some bullshit” against you, but rest assured, they still will.
It’s been more than a decade since Assange has been free.
While this is obviously problematic, to me, it's even worse if domestic law enforcement agencies gain new ways to remove friction like warrant requirements or at least the need to make specific per-instance requests (which are possible to (in theory) be tracked and reviewed to detect over-use and abuse). The idea of domestic law enforcement agencies gaining access to "full take" feeds of everything enabling them to retrospectively build massive connection trees of metadata which can be searched is downright terrifying.