[nordsieck]

> How would you like it if people sold information about you based on what they saw and heard you do in public?

You mean like PIs?

> That is a gross violation of your privacy and illegal theft of your data.

Most people don't like it, but it's certainly not illegal.

[umvi]

> You mean like PIs?

Yes, but they have a government-approved license to do so, normal citizens do not. Random civilians aren't allowed to just PI people.

In terms of privacy rights, it would be for the best if people had mandatory implants inserted at birth that automatically prevented brains from recording things about other people in public that haven't consented to your recording. I'm thinking something like White Christmas (Black Mirror) where the default is that strangers that haven't opted in are fuzzed out visually and audibly. This would be a huge win for privacy rights.

[nordsieck]

> Yes, but they have a government-approved license to do so, normal citizens do not.

I mean, so do hair dressers. That doesn't stop people from cutting their friend's hair. You just can't charge for it.

> Random civilians aren't allowed to just PI people.

In the US, it is legal to video record anyone where they don't have a "reasonable expectation of privacy" (audio recording laws vary much more by State). At a minimum this includes everywhere most people would consider "in public".

> it would be for the best if people had mandatory implants inserted at birth that automatically prevented brains from recording things about other people in public that haven't consented to your recording.

There is really nothing I can add to your statement.

I currently believe very few people would agree with you, but I could be incorrect in that belief.

[umvi]

My point is that there is absolutely no difference between:

- cameras that observe your every move and sell off facial recognition and other data to third parties

- brain indexing/dumping tech that turns people into living cameras that are capable of doing the above.

Thus, if we decide that it is illegal to automatically collect information on people using computers, it shouldn't matter if the computer is electronic or biological in nature, it's a violation of the law either way. If companies aren't allowed to store PII about people without their consent, neither should indexable brains be able to store PII about people without their consent. It's quite simple.

[danShumway]

But... isn't the entire point of White Christmas that this technology has horrifying social consequences?

Maybe I'm out of the loop, but do people really look at Black Mirror episodes and walk away thinking, "that might be a really good idea."?

[nordsieck]

> do people really look at Black Mirror episodes and walk away thinking, "that might be a really good idea."?

Apparently at least one person did.

[umvi]

> But... isn't the entire point of White Christmas that this technology has horrifying social consequences?

Yes, and the point of my commentary is that privacy zealotry itself has horrifying social consequences when taken to its logical conclusions

[traderjane]

You don't need a government approved license to wait outside places where you know celebrities will show up and take pictures of them to sell.