maurograziani.org
Music Art Technology & other stories

banner

Posted on 2006 by MG

A society with glass walls

Now imagine a glass-walled society.
Let me explain. Let's assume the following conditions:

Ultimately, no privacy at all. At this point, we would know almost everything about everyone. To find out where a cell phone is currently located, and therefore the person carrying it, all we need to do is log into the telephone company's database. To find out how I spend money, who I paid, and when, all we need to do is search the transaction database. We would know what I bought at a particular supermarket, etc. We would know what my latest tests were and what illnesses I have or have had. We would know which clubs I frequent, which highway toll booths my car has passed through, which train/plane tickets I've bought, and whether anyone with my code has ever boarded one.

End of secrets.
End of state espionage because there's no espionage on things everyone can know.
End of most property crimes.
End of stupid family suspicions.
End of tax evasion.

Not bad!


Back