Re:Tech Needs More Conscientious Objectors
by olalonde on Tuesday April 23, 2019 @05:46PM
(#19733264)
This article is premised on the idea that basically everything the Chinese government does is unethical, which is debatable. For one, the Chinese government is largely supported by its population. There might actually be engineers working on Dragonfly who do not believe the project is unethical. It's not that black and white...
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Re:Tech Needs More Conscientious Objectors
by stendinator on Tuesday April 23, 2019 @06:46PM
(#19733759)
How would one know if the Chinese government was supported by the population or not, given that anyone expressing a contrary opinion is likely to be a thorn in the eye that is China's surveillance state?
Re:Tech Needs More Conscientious Objectors
by olalonde on Tuesday April 23, 2019 @07:20PM
(#19733991)
It's quite apparent to anyone who has lived there for a while and talked to people. Some large scale anonymous surveys done by not particularly sympathetic outsiders also confirm it (e.g. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/10/0...).
Re:Tech Needs More Conscientious Objectors
by lern_too_spel on Wednesday April 24, 2019 @12:11AM
(#19735496)
That's what happens when the party controls information to paint a very specific picture. You'll find that anonymous surveys in DPRK will also show that most support the Kim regime.
Re:Tech Needs More Conscientious Objectors
by tjpnz on Wednesday April 24, 2019 @12:14AM
(#19735505)
What became the Chinese government we know today also conducted "anonymous" surveys during the cultural revolution. Those who answered incorrectly were bundled up (along with their families) and never seen again.
> How would one know if the Chinese government was supported by the population or not
Or given the fact that any attempt to gather opinion about the communist party on the ground would instantly land you in jail, this is an impossible statement if anything.
Re:Tech Needs More Conscientious Objectors
by int_19h on Tuesday April 23, 2019 @09:06PM
(#19734644)
Being largely supported by its population is not a valid justification for human rights abuses. Consider Japan during WW2 for a concrete example of how far this can go.
Re:Tech Needs More Conscientious Objectors
by AstralStorm on Tuesday April 23, 2019 @05:59PM
(#19733366)
That does not give any moral right to corporation to suppress clear facts. No matter how bad they are for their PR.
No not everything the Chinese government does unethical.
I think it's fair to say most of the surveillance technology they're buying is not being used to help people.
Do not forget, the Chinese government is, right now, using surveillance technology to imprison Uighurs.
https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?stor...