This is what we think we know so far: The state, whatever that means these days, monitors and records everything everywhere.We're assured that this is done with good intentions and with our best interests in mind: Restless vigilance is needed in the war on terror, drug trafficking, money-laundering. Laws that get in the way – such as the one that, on the surface, forbids the US to spy on its own citizens – are bent in ingenious ways, such as outsourcing the surveillance to a friendly or needy ally.
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Every day there's another story. On Monday, the WSJ told us that the FBI has mastered the hacking tools required to remotely turn on microphones and cameras on smartphones and laptops...
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The surveillance and snooping isn't just about computers. We have licence-plate recorders and federally mandated black boxes in cars.
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But, you'll say, we have a democratic system; if we don't want our privacy invaded, surely we can voice our objection through our votes. After all, we elect and fire our representatives, the ones who make the laws and who hire and fire government executives for us.
Not really, or not anymore.
-Jean-Louis Gasser, The Guardian.
