Surveillance Overreach and the Expansion of Government Power
Sources:
https://reclaimthenet.org/tsa-biometric-technology-expansion-airport-privacy-concerns
https://reclaimthenet.org/new-orleans-new-years-eve-terror-attack-privacy-surveillance-debate
https://apnews.com/article/drones-new-york-jersey-schumer-80de1d64708677cfa7efc60249075d7b
Issue: The increasing deployment of surveillance technologies under the guise of public safety.
Key Points:
•Drone Incidents:Mysterious drones over Northeast states have prompted calls for advanced tracking tech, expanding government surveillance capabilities without clear oversight.
•Airport Biometrics:TSA and CBP are pushing facial recognition and other biometrics, potentially normalizing mass surveillance without adequate privacy protections.
•Local Surveillance:Post-terror attack in New Orleans, proposals for city-wide CCTV akin to European models threaten privacy and civil liberties.
Concerns:
•Privacy:Vast data collection with potential for misuse beyond security purposes.
•Transparency:Deployment of surveillance tech often lacks public debate or regulatory oversight.
•Power Concentration:Enhanced surveillance tools centralize government control, potentially at the expense of democratic freedoms.
•Precedent Setting:Each new surveillance measure sets a precedent for further government intrusion into private life.
Conclusion:
The justification of safety is leading to unchecked expansion of governmental surveillance power. This trend risks transforming public spaces into zones of constant monitoring, eroding privacy as a fundamental right.
Recommendation:
<AI and Technology Bill of Rights
Preamble:
In recognition of the transformative power of artificial intelligence and advanced technology on human life, we establish these rights to ensure that technological advancements uphold human dignity, liberty, and the essence of human interaction.
Article I - Right to Privacy, Autonomy, and Freedom from Manipulation
No technology, including AI or surveillance systems, may infringe upon an individual's privacy, personal actions, or lifestyle choices without explicit consent. This includes protection against any form of subtle manipulation or influence on personal behavior by AI or automated systems.
Article II - Right to Mental Autonomy
No one shall be subjected to neural or brain-computer interfaces without full, informed, and revocable consent. Informed consent includes understanding the implications, risks, and functionalities of the interface. Revocable consent means the individual must have the ability to safely disconnect or deactivate the interface at any time without harm to their physical or mental health.
Article III - Right to Informed Consent
Before any interaction with AI systems or technology that significantly impacts personal life, individuals have the right to be fully informed. This includes clear labeling or disclosure when technology creates scenarios, environments, or content that could be mistaken for natural or human-made, ensuring transparency about the origin and nature of such interactions or situations.
Article IV - Right to Human Oversight
There shall be human oversight in all critical decision-making processes involving AI, especially in areas affecting life, liberty, or significant personal or societal outcomes, ensuring that human values and ethics guide technology.
Article V - Right to Technology-Free Spaces
Individuals have the right to environments and moments free from technological intrusion, where human interaction and natural experiences can flourish without digital augmentation.
Article VI - Right to Authentic Human Intercession
Individuals shall have the right to request and receive human intercession in any process or decision-making that is dictated or influenced by AI systems. This right ensures access to human judgment, empathy, and oversight in critical situations where AI's decisions impact personal life, rights, or well-being, including but not limited to healthcare, education, legal proceedings, and social services.
Article VII - Right to Non-Discrimination for Technology Abstinence
No person shall be discriminated against, in any form or context, for choosing not to engage with or use digital technologies.
Enforcement and Review:
An independent body or commission, including the Public shall be established to monitor, interpret, and enforce these rights, regularly reviewing and adapting them to new technological developments.
Do you support giving the government unlimited surveillance capability? In what ways can this "Bill of Rights" be improved?
