Re:North Korea's computer operating system mirrors its polit...
by markism on Sunday December 27, 2015 @09:20PM
(#10799523)
You need to make sure the people in charge won't do that indefinitely. Even one particularly bad politician can cause some serious harm. If you limit their ability to monitor everyone, it limits their ability to round up dissenters. Given that surveillance doesn't seem to have much other use, it's reasonable to oppose it.
Re:North Korea's computer operating system mirrors its polit...
by mikeash on Sunday December 27, 2015 @09:25PM
(#10799542)
How can you limit their ability to monitor everyone, but not be able to limit their ability to round up dissenters?
Re:North Korea's computer operating system mirrors its polit...
by markism on Monday December 28, 2015 @03:09AM
(#10800361)
If you discuss and regulate the privacy issues in times of peace it limits, or at least hinders, their ability to cause harm when they can take advantage of fear or rage.
Re:North Korea's computer operating system mirrors its polit...
by mikeash on Monday December 28, 2015 @09:35AM
(#10801216)
I agree, but only when somewhat reasonable leaders get caught up in fear and rage. The issue of being or becoming a fascist state is rather different. I think there are excellent reasons to curb the surveillance state, I just don't see one of them being the avoidance of a totalitarian government.
Re:North Korea's computer operating system mirrors its polit...
by aaronem on Monday December 28, 2015 @05:00AM
(#10800547)
Really? Weimar's human rights laws were second to none in the world for their time, and are considered exemplary even now. If what you say is true, how did the Nazi abuses occur?
Regarding your poem, it's the "coming for" people that's the big problem, not merely the ability. If you don't want the government to "come for" people, you need to make sure the people in charge won't do that. It's not very useful to try to make it so they can't