Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft president: Orwell’s 1984 could happen in 2024

bbc.co.uk

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 182 posts

Re: Microsoft president: Orwell’s 1984 could happen in 2024

#61

Post by postpawl »

lsy wrote: post #32

It seems that some tech executives, having more money than any person could spend, often seek what they see as the next level of accomplishment, which is proximity to power and decisions over life and death. That shows up as this sort of militaristic nationalism along lines that conveniently happen to align with their claimed expertise. Of course neither of the executives interviewed in this article really knows that…

You don’t think AI is a “threat to democracy”?

I think the threat isn’t just AI being used by governments to control citizens. Advertising companies want to influence behavior too, and their customers are mostly private corporations. They already have a lot of power and advertising is a $100+ Billion dollar industry for a reason.. it works.

If you haven’t seen it, I’d encourage you to watch Can’t Get You Out of My Head by Adam Curtis, which talks a lot about the increasing influence corporations have on the masses (by using technology): https://youtu.be/pga0Oi1cZvo

Re: Microsoft president: Orwell’s 1984 could happen in 2024

#62

Post by pkdpic_y9k »

lsy wrote: post #32

It seems that some tech executives, having more money than any person could spend, often seek what they see as the next level of accomplishment, which is proximity to power and decisions over life and death. That shows up as this sort of militaristic nationalism along lines that conveniently happen to align with their claimed expertise. Of course neither of the executives interviewed in this article really knows that…

That is SUCH a good point. This is exactly why I get all my news from HN. (not a good idea)

Possibly related Noam Chimpsky paraphrased superaccuratequote - "Look at all the conflicts China is involved in, they're regional. They don't venture anywhere close to our territory. It's all posturing to coerce the obedience of their own population. Ultimately they represent no real threat and are being cast as a boogieman possibly to coerce our obedience. My name is Noam Chomsky. I teach at Arizona Community College now for some reason and Im probably a millionaire."

Seriously though the most Orwellian part of this whole thing might (might) be Big Tech Brother casting China as the perpetual Eurasian superenemy.

Or not? Idunno I wouldn't take a job in China.

Re: Microsoft president: Orwell’s 1984 could happen in 2024

#63

Post by briefcomment »

dleslie wrote: post #41

A key point of 1984 is that behind the screen is a fellow citizen; and that the entire structure of oppression is operated by otherwise-regular citizens. It's sad that "big brother" has lost the connotation of a citizen-operated panopticon, because I think that concern is far more immediately pressing.

We need people to start making the hard decision to forgo the convenient option.

> "Dr Lan Xue, who advises the Chinese Government, said facial recognition could prove "tremendously helpful" in identifying people in mass gatherings if there is a "major accident"."

People need to follow their gut and say no to things like this.

It's hard to pick out the reasonable interventions from the ones that are being promoted for surveillance purposes. It's probably best at this point to be conservative with the civil liberties we compromise on. Unfortunately, certainly language has been co-opted, and that's confusing. "Greater good" and "public health" are hard to argue against.

Re: Microsoft president: Orwell’s 1984 could happen in 2024

#65

Post by Bud »

throwitaway1235 wrote: post #37
swader999 wrote: post #27

I can't be the only one thinking we've passed 1984 already?

I personally believe we crossed that Rubicon once we granted the play store our vaccination status, contact tracing strangers etc. That was the undeniable shift towards hard totalitarianism.

Um, clearly it's not undeniable, because I deny it.

What precisely scares you so much about vaccination status being somewhat public? There's precisely zero threat to any real liberties there. And it's laughable to call this "hard totalitarianism".

As an aside, this didn't even happen, of course; we didn't "grant the play store our vaccination status". Never happened.

Re: Microsoft president: Orwell’s 1984 could happen in 2024

#66

Post by sillysaurusx »

charcircuit wrote: post #64

More surveillance is a good thing. With more data, the government can make better decisions and be more efficient. I don't think this is anything to be scared about.

That same argument would prevent the right to privacy.

Re: Microsoft president: Orwell’s 1984 could happen in 2024

#68

Post by retrac »

charcircuit wrote: post #64

More surveillance is a good thing. With more data, the government can make better decisions and be more efficient. I don't think this is anything to be scared about.

As someone part of a group targeted by my own government until recently for rather ruthless suppression, I can't say I share your confidence in good outcomes.

Re: Microsoft president: Orwell’s 1984 could happen in 2024

#69

Post by DSingularity »

pkdpic_y9k wrote: post #62
lsy wrote: post #32

It seems that some tech executives, having more money than any person could spend, often seek what they see as the next level of accomplishment, which is proximity to power and decisions over life and death. That shows up as this sort of militaristic nationalism along lines that conveniently happen to align with their claimed expertise. Of course neither of the executives interviewed in this article really knows that…

That is SUCH a good point. This is exactly why I get all my news from HN. (not a good idea) Possibly related Noam Chimpsky paraphrased superaccuratequote - "Look at all the conflicts China is involved in, they're regional. They don't venture anywhere close to our territory. It's all posturing to coerce the obedience of their own population. Ultimately they represent no real threat and are being cast as a boogieman po…

Which context is that Chomsky quote from? The latter part makes no sense.
Post reply on HN