Watching Them Watching Us
from the it's-all-connected dept
The idea of watching back those who are watching us is not new. Every time it's brought up, someone points to David Brin's The Transparent Society. Now, Brin has written up a long (and somewhat rambling) piece for Salon that points out, whether we like it or not, technology is forcing everyone to be more open. It's not a question of whether the technology is good or bad, but how it's used. His suggestion is that it's time to embrace the technology of surveillance (and sousveillance) in order to make sure that it's used properly. Simply trying to stop the rise of cameras, RFIDs and closely connected databases is doomed to fail. And, even worse, by fighting against it, many privacy advocates are making sure that these things are set up so only "they" (governments, corporations, someone who isn't you) have access -- leaving out any accountability. In a world where people are freaking out over camera phones, RFIDs and internet tapping, it's certainly an interesting read. Brin points out that all of these technologies have benefits when used properly, and even the negatives can be dealt with, if people really come up with ways to embrace the technology, rather than just deny its existence altogether.
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
No Subject Given by Jeremiah on Aug 4th, 2004 @ 1:16pm
Yes, but are any of these technologies "disruptive?!"
Sorry, Mike, I just couldn't resist...
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Re: No Subject Given by Anonymous Coward on Aug 4th, 2004 @ 1:34pm
" embracing the technology " means " submit without question ".
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Some More Open by Force; Others More Closed by Anonymous Coward on Aug 4th, 2004 @ 3:28pm
While some people have succumbed to the forceful push towards openness, some of us have begun building our Legends. And if you don't know what that is, then that's fine by me.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
"Watching Them Watch Us" by Anthony V Parcero on Aug 4th, 2004 @ 7:04pm
A little bit off-topic from the Brin article but, the other day, I noticed something linteresting on Wikipedia and commented on it over at a group blog I contribute to:
http://www.monkeyspan.com/archives/000266.shtml
I think Jeremy Pepper's comment (expecially the last sentence) is very prescient. I noticed the Wikipedia content about 1 week after a bunch of us had also just finished-up the Global PR Blog Week (www.globalprblogweek.com) and there were definitely differing sets of opinions among the participants...
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Add Your Comment