[hutzlibu]

When the gangsters keep the papers of the workers, the lines do indeed get blurry.

But it is still quite a difference between exploiting someone weaker and actually owning a person and be legally able to do anything with him or her.

[inglor_cz]

I would say that one is de facto slave if their superiors can rape or kill them without legal repercussions.

[hutzlibu]

I would agree to that.

They still would have to fear, that someone leaks the video of it - and some superior needs a scapegoat to punish, because everyone here respects human rights etc.

A legally owned slave, was legally OK to be raped or killed. And ok to proudly tell everyone about it.

[brezelgoring]

>They still would have to fear, that someone leaks the video of it

Is it really a deterrent, though? You said yourself that it'd be scapegoated and its not like they depend on good PR to keep their goodies, they own the country after all.

Also I can't help but wonder what these people talk about behind closed doors, do they really play by the same rules you and I would be held accountable to behind closed doors?

[hutzlibu]

"they own the country after all."

They still need good relationships with the west. Open slavery would not be tolerated.

[tacomonstrous]

But it is already. Lots of otherwise heinous activities are tolerated just fine by the West. When was the last time the name Khashoggi found its way into Western mainstream media?

[NateEag]

I suspect it would, at least until the dependency on Middle Eastern oil is gone.

Humans are amazing at justifying actions. There's a whole school of ethical thought devoted to it (utilitarianism).