Thats actually incorrect, while we don't set policy up on high, the results of our work and projects we initiate push policymakers to set those policies. JackFr is right, engineers inform and that holds a lot of weight beyond what you might think.

Lessig said this once: Code is Law.

http://harvardmagazine.com/2000/01/code-is-law-html

See also: http://codev2.cc

Granted, he was talking about how the private sector can fill in where government doesn't go. Yet even on the inside there are choices to be made and influence to be exerted.

someone should let a few of the thousands of developers who cooperated in building the surveillance state know about that i suppose

Someone should. Which is why I commented.

You'd be surprised how much of a difference a single person, engineer or not, can make on the inside, with enough persistence and vision.

If you care about policy, you put in the time, and you know what you're talking about -- you'll make your mark.

No, they don't set policy. But they inform it.

Real policy-makers ship.