Historically technology has been more successful in affecting political change.

I believe that we have an example of such "success". In Stasi era total surveillance was too expensive. Today technology made it cheap, hence we do total surveillance.

We could try to bet on technology-first approach. That means rewriting of all the stacks, create automated solutions that hack and/or patch systems (see DARPA Cyber Grand Challenge), hardening systems and protocols, etc. Now, this leaves us with dumb users that need to be retrained. And that can't be done.

And there is other side of things. While we wait for thing that may not happen (dark internet),

a) public money are being wasted

b) surveillance is creating chilling effect TODAY

c) wars with US involvement are raging, fuelling ranks of radicals in Arab world

>> We could try to bet on technology-first approach.

Since we don't control all the stack(processors, maps ,cellular towers, etc ), and we'll probably won't be allowed to control all the stack , the technology-first approach is just wishful thinking.

I disagree. In the end, all encryption is breakable with a rubber hose. Nothing stops people in a position of great power from abusing that power except social and political pressures. The key is to create a social and political environment that stigmatizes these behaviors.

Unfortunately, we're not there in the US yet. I believe it will come, in the same way that the search warrant became necessary for tapping someone's phone, say, but it will take time for society to catch up.

Can you cite an example? It's hard to come up with one where you can't find examples of use or abuse, with the direction depending on social factors.