Also in case of these materials and their use largely they just have been switched to some alternative. In case of surveillance (and tracking online) each use-case have to separately disrupted so we can move away from this large scale dragnet surveillance/tracking.

Though regulation undoubtedly helps to allow the development of these alternatives.

Erm, none of those things were _stopped_. Heck, even Asbestos lacks a full ban in the USA. These hazardous materials were just heavily regulated, which is what we're arguing should be done with surveillance tech as well.

So even with obviously hazardous chemicals, it still takes literal decades for the research and law to catch up. I'm imagining it will take twice as long for surveillance, which doesn't directly kill people/wildlife. Unless, perhaps, China's usage of the tech to oppress Uighur muslims gets decent coverage.