[kijin]

It's a kind of hack on modern sanitation systems. It makes you realize that everyone is (literally!) leaking all sorts of information about what's in their bodies. You just need to know where to pick up that treasure trove of information. It tickles the hacker fantasies!

[zo1]

Also, I'm wondering at what point privacy-groups will start complaining about this sort of testing. In the future, the testing will get to a point where smaller and smaller parts of cities can be measured independently and that would yield policy-action by the government. E.g. "This area over here has lots of meth users, let's police that area more."

Or... They test everyone's sewage independently and privacy-advocate groups cry foul because sewage (and garbage) are personal information and the city can't use it to discriminate or punish people!

[Nasrudith]

Part of the issue with meth specifically is that there are legal 'cousins', although the expected levels of prescriptions differing could tell.

Really the sewage issue is just proof that the system is broken on multiple layers. First off is sticking with the war on drugs when it is clear that fighting abstract concepts or inanimate objects is like getting drunk and boxing with a lamppost - you just look stupid and hurt yourself. Second the precedents and doctrines of 'in plain view' of discards including what is essentially legally required. They were done in an era where the data would be useless to the police even if they could process it. Third, for all of their new data the process isn't actually improving things on any level. Fourth they are running on tautologies enforcing because they must enforce not because they have any vision for an outcome or a connection between their actions and results beyond 'because it is their job'.

[Mirioron]

Here's a horrifying thought:

"Smart" toilet/sink/pipe + sewage testing = data

[DownGoat]

Reminds me of an old "Bastard Operator From Hell" story. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/03/09/bofh_protecting_bod...

[mirimir]

Comment re Adult Swim riff: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22782448