"The thing… Oh! My theory about advancing technologies as both our savior and our doom?" - olaf
The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
111–120 of 330 posts
Re: The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
#112Earlier quoted context omitted.
The TV show Upload [1] has a group of people dubbed the "Ludds" (i.e. Luddites) that refuse to be party to the turn that the technological revolution has taken and stick to traditional ways of doing things. I strongly believe if that were to happen in our world today, much of Silicon Valley would be "Ludds", while a mass of non-tech people would happily welcome our new technological overlords. [1]: https://www.imdb.c…
> much of Silicon Valley would be "Ludds" No, quite the opposite They're the ones who buy "smart locks" then get locked out of their place because they dropped their iPhone in a puddle or the lights went out They're the ones who come with genius ideas like reinventing the bus with Uber or fall for stuff like uBeam because they're too lazy to plug their phone into a charger
That’s why Lockly.com has THREE methods of opening a smart lock.
1. key
2. iPhone
3. PIN pad.
Re: The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
#113It's painfully obvious OP is talking about a smart phone and a vax passport. You don't have to be "anti-vax" (which is a stupid stupid term) to be anti-vax-passport. The people pushing for vax passports have no clue what they are unleashing. It is absolutely fascist, evil and incredibly surprising to me that 99% of the people on this website are in 100% favor of it. EVIL.
It's painfully obvious that they don't mean anti-vax, given "mandatory usage will be a race between mobile payment and government services like eID and eLicense".
As most things, even if you were required to carry an electronic vaccine proof, you would simply be unable to do certain things; most bars require ID to enter, and I wouldn't be surprised if eventually they'll be required to use scanners that verify REAL ID status (given all US territories and states, outside of American Samoa[0], issue DLs or ID cards with REAL ID).
Re: The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
#114In one HN thread, people complain about the U.S. not forcing people to get vaccinated, and in another thread it's about how the U.S. is becoming an authoritarian state. I take no position on these arguments, I just get spun around trying to track whether the U.S. is being overrun by libertarians or authoritarians sometimes.
Yes. This country has a 10/90 split between the authoritarians (who mostly live in large cities and are themselves in semi-authoritarian conditions - New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, etc. [0]) and the rest of the people (the Silent Majority) who live in suburbia and the Middle of NoWhere.
Unfortunately the Silent Majority just wants to be left alone. They are getting more vocal (Tea Party during the Obama years, most pro-Trumpers, others) but they are slow to act and lack any sense of retaliation when they are shut down [1]. They think if they keep their heads down the totalitarian system developing at a national level will leave them alone.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_b..., about 35 million Americans live in cities larger than 1 million total pop
[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/irs-scandal-fast-fac...
> In May 2013, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration released a report indicating the targeting involved delaying the processing of applications by certain conservative groups and requesting information from them that was later deemed unnecessary.
[edit] remove unrelated statement [\edit]
Re: The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
#115It's painfully obvious OP is talking about a smart phone and a vax passport. You don't have to be "anti-vax" (which is a stupid stupid term) to be anti-vax-passport. The people pushing for vax passports have no clue what they are unleashing. It is absolutely fascist, evil and incredibly surprising to me that 99% of the people on this website are in 100% favor of it. EVIL.
What? Literally everywhere that requires a vax card accepts paper versions too
My concern is more with people in somewhat unusual circumstances who get "lost in the bureaucracy".
I am fully vaccinated, but unable to get a QR code – digital or paper version. My circumstances are somewhat unusual: I moved back to the Netherlands after a few years abroad (I am a Dutch citizen), and due to the difficult rental market and not having a job (yet) I've been forced to stay in temporary accommodations. I can't "officially register" with the city there, and thus unable to get the QR code in spite of having all the other official documentation.
This is a problem for various reasons, and something that will finally be fixed next month or so when I start my new job, but it's not really something I can fix now. Never before has such a "unusual status" led to a near-complete exclusion from basic participation in social life. I can basically do bugger all except sit at home, and after being away for many years I don't know anyone, too. It's not a good situation. I guess I should count myself lucky as we don't require these things for public transport.
Is my situation unusual? Sure. But there are lots of unusual situations out there, ranging from simple ones ("I lost my phone this morning and now I can't go to {job interview,funeral,etc.}") to more complex ones.
Furthermore, since the current vaccinations only work so-so, it's not really clear to me how effective all of this really is and I wouldn't be surprised if the effectiveness was only very limited, or even net negative (just as bicycle helmets can provide a net-negative to cyclists safety, since cyclists tend to take more risks on average while wearing a helmet).
Overall, I'm not a huge fan, although I'm obviously biased on account of being disadvantaged quite a lot in my current situation.
Re: The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
#116Earlier quoted context omitted.
> not be subjugated to whatever happens to feed the anxieties and neuroses of society. That’s awfully vague. Are specters doing this to you? Seems that some power analysis is in order.
Even before covid, when it turned out that society wants to track my movements or to reward and punish me based on my medical history, it could easily be swayed with such words as "pedophile ", "terrorists", or "drugs". So much so that it might want to be able to monitor my private messaging (and prevent its encryption) to make sure that I am neither a pedophile, nor a terrorist; or might want to check my social medi…
Have fun with those ghosts of yours.
The power elite sets policy. Not vague sentiments.
Re: The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
#117It's painfully obvious OP is talking about a smart phone and a vax passport. You don't have to be "anti-vax" (which is a stupid stupid term) to be anti-vax-passport. The people pushing for vax passports have no clue what they are unleashing. It is absolutely fascist, evil and incredibly surprising to me that 99% of the people on this website are in 100% favor of it. EVIL.
I want to make sure we're talking about the same thing. When I hear people say "vaccine passport" I assume they mean "COVID-19 vaccination documentation". Is that a correct interpretation, or does a vaccine passport mean something more? If it is just "COVID-19 vaccination documentation", has there been a push to not allow the paper documentation? I've been primarily using my paper documentation without issue. As far…
I need to lead this with "I'm fully vaccinated and pro-vaccine" so nobody gets the wrong idea (I'm disappointed that this is the state of discourse) BUT...
Anyone can print a piece of paper. If vaccination requirements are going to have any teeth whatsoever, they will need to be much more invasive. A central database is the minimum. You'll need holographic cards with your picture, like driver's licenses. Spot checks on restaurants to ensure they're checking ids properly, and serious consequences for failure - you'll need a license to serve food, and the FABC (food and alcoholic beverage control) board will be able to fine you or revoke it.
Basically, you'll need to treat almost all of public society the way we treat alcoholic beverage sales.
I personally find that terrifying and would rather see covid run rampant.
Re: The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
#118Earlier quoted context omitted.
> much of Silicon Valley would be "Ludds" No, quite the opposite They're the ones who buy "smart locks" then get locked out of their place because they dropped their iPhone in a puddle or the lights went out They're the ones who come with genius ideas like reinventing the bus with Uber or fall for stuff like uBeam because they're too lazy to plug their phone into a charger
That’s why Lockly.com has THREE methods of opening a smart lock. 1. key 2. iPhone 3. PIN pad.
4. Hacker
Re: The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
#119Earlier quoted context omitted.
What? Literally everywhere that requires a vax card accepts paper versions too
[flagged]
Why are we attacking the person instead of the argument? We should be discussing the points, not trying to start a flame war. I'm really not sure how vaccination documentation to eat in a restaurant is equivalent to jailing people for their ethnicity, sexuality, or ideology. Can we take a step back and discuss your thought process? You have come to a much different conclusion than I and I would like to understand how. While doing so, can we kindly assume the other person is not trying to be evil?
Re: The window to deploy surveillance-resistant systems is running out
#120In one HN thread, people complain about the U.S. not forcing people to get vaccinated, and in another thread it's about how the U.S. is becoming an authoritarian state. I take no position on these arguments, I just get spun around trying to track whether the U.S. is being overrun by libertarians or authoritarians sometimes.
It's almost as if there are more than two people here.