How Much Surveillance Can Democracy Withstand?
Technological means to prevent government surveillance are a great idea, and usually also increase personal security from crime at the same time.<p>However, in the long run technology is insufficient. Laws trump technology, and culture trumps laws.<p>Consider a group of people with a strong track record of success protecting their rights and privacy: gun owners. The gun lobby is so strong that they have forced the government to use archaic technology:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.gq.com&#x2F;story&#x2F;inside-federal-bureau-of-way-too-many-guns" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.gq.com&#x2F;story&#x2F;inside-federal-bureau-of-way-too-man...</a><p>The most important step in fighting surveillance is getting people to believe that surveillance is bad. I know we all think so, but we need more than just HN for this. Congress will care about privacy when their phones ring nonstop about it; when they lose elections over it.