Recently, CBS highlighted that the U.S. Border Patrol is covertly monitoring millions of drivers across the nation. A system of cameras scans license plates and collects facial recognition data, which is processed by an unnamed “predictive intelligence” algorithm.
One has to wonder, what has happened to the land of the free?
Since 9/11, many of us have harbored suspicions that something like this could occur. As Leonard Cohen once sang, it’s as if we’ve been left wondering: what are people actually doing? I think it’s still unclear how our growing unease will shape the future regulations on technology that impacts others, but maybe not us.
There’s a notion that employing systems like Palantir—or something akin to it—might be necessary to counteract the consequences of the Obama-Biden era.
Surveillance and data collection technologies are increasingly prevalent. If we’re not there yet, we’re moving towards a reality where detailed records on nearly everyone exist, eventually linked to psychological profiles developed from individual online histories.
Yes, the accuracy of these profiles depends on a static view of human nature, which overlooks spontaneity and personal growth. The value of these expansive profiles could be significant if our objectives prioritizing material wealth and the blending of human essence with machines take precedence over spiritual or familial values.
Yet here we are, more people opting into this kind of mechanical existence, whether they realize it or not.
Since 9/11, both political sides have warned against an expanding “surveillance state.” But in the meantime, our demographics have undergone substantial and, some might argue, reckless transformations. We’ve essentially invited numerous diverse groups to coexist, leading to mini-civil wars within our own neighborhoods. The American public funds this dilemma in various costly ways.
What drives us, exactly?
Many think we’re not a united people anymore. Instead, we’ve become a patchwork of increasingly solitary and combative groups. Historically, regional identities always existed in the U.S., yet only recently have we begun to see ourselves through such a lens. There are countless discussions around the factors causing this widening rift—financial, religious, historical, and even economic. Each has its merits.
But, let’s talk about the technologies at hand. They seem to be evolving without any signs of stopping or reversing. It’s hard to see how this technological advance can be seen as “inevitable” without considering human choices. Maybe it would be simpler to address it from the standpoint of human behavior intertwined with economic motives and corruption.
Ultimately, we find ourselves in a tough spot. On one side, there’s a powerful super-technology. On the other, a fragmented and chaotic populace.
So, what should we do with the surveillance systems we’re currently putting into place? Polls tell different stories, but even Gallup notes that back in 1995, attitudes towards immigration were overwhelmingly negative. Yet transformations have occurred. The demands to displace millions haven’t advanced significantly, despite calls for action.
Meanwhile, it’s common knowledge that the American Dream is hardly recognizable anymore. One can easily envision how the same surveillance systems aimed at immigrants could soon extend to impoverished traditional Americans, all while they struggle to make ends meet. Is anyone under 40 prepared to endure such severe limitations on their opportunities for a decent life?
This dislocation of expectations is so pronounced that even the U.S. Department of Labor commented on it, highlighting how many feel “The American Dream has been taken from them.”
When considering the math: a multitude of outsiders paired with countless young American men unable to form families, plus an overarching surveillance structure lacking clear ideological direction…?
On a brighter note, AI-driven technologies from firms like Palantir could hypothetically rejuvenate populations by efficiently reaching preset targets in no time. But it’s crucial to recognize that these systems are unlikely to fade anytime soon. Even acknowledging the purported inevitability of pervasive surveillance and predictive algorithms in shaping our lives doesn’t give us much authority to curb future abuses amid sweeping social and technological changes.
