Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#1

Post by ericzawo » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 3:40 PM UTC

Palantir’s User Manual for Cops
vice.com

Re: Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#2

Post by chance_state » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 4:02 PM UTC

What motivates extremely talented tech workers to devote their limited working years to making the world a worse place to live in?

Re: Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#3

Post by BowBun » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 4:02 PM UTC

chance_state wrote: post #2

What motivates extremely talented tech workers to devote their limited working years to making the world a worse place to live in?

$

Re: Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#4

Post by baobrain » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 4:07 PM UTC

chance_state wrote: post #2

What motivates extremely talented tech workers to devote their limited working years to making the world a worse place to live in?

$, like someone else has said, but I also would guess that many of the engineers do not have a clear idea of the overarching functionality of the application.

I'm sure internal communication about the product is extremely positive, with phrases like "improved law enforcement accuracy by XX%, decreased customer costs and time by YY," so some may truly believe they are doing something that everyone would agree is good.

Re: Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#5

Post by zeropnc » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 4:07 PM UTC

chance_state wrote: post #2

What motivates extremely talented tech workers to devote their limited working years to making the world a worse place to live in?

Believe it or not, contrary to judeo-christian Western ideals, not everything is morally black and white.

Re: Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#6

Post by sansnomme » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 4:11 PM UTC

chance_state wrote: post #2

What motivates extremely talented tech workers to devote their limited working years to making the world a worse place to live in?

Is the work-life balance at Palantir better? Read on HN that defence companies have much better pacing.

Re: Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#7

Post by _iyig » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 4:12 PM UTC

chance_state wrote: post #2

What motivates extremely talented tech workers to devote their limited working years to making the world a worse place to live in?

What leads well-off Americans, whose safety and comfort is guaranteed by the constant efforts of law enforcement, to conclude that legal efforts to make law enforcement more efficient would make the world a worse place?

Re: Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#8

Post by zarathustraa » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 4:12 PM UTC

chance_state wrote: post #2

What motivates extremely talented tech workers to devote their limited working years to making the world a worse place to live in?

It's making it worse until something bad happens to someone you value.

If Obama's daughters (or Trump's if you are on the other side) were killed in some horrific racist incident, wouldn't you approve the usage of such software if it was the only hope of getting the perpetrator? Or would you say "as much as I am saddened, I cannot approve such massive invasion of privacy".

Re: Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#9

Post by dbuder » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 4:12 PM UTC

chance_state wrote: post #2

What motivates extremely talented tech workers to devote their limited working years to making the world a worse place to live in?

They think they are on the good guys' side.

Re: Palantir’s User Manual for Cops

#10

Post by ummonk » Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 4:13 PM UTC

Would this be all that shocking to the general public? Watch any detective show and the fictional tools there are at least as capable as this real life tool.