[3grdlurker]

Not a US citizen, but what’s noticeably lacking in discussions about surveillance (such as this one) is faulting the very government that’s pressuring companies to comply with state surveillance programs. Doesn’t matter how big you are or how much you’re worth—if your interests do not align with the state you’re not above its power.

[nescioquid]

No kidding. The US government has been involved in domestic mass surveillance for about a quarter century now (see Carnivore), predating the pretext given by the terror attacks of 2001. When this was getting off the ground in the 90s, my recollection is that the criticism (if any) one found in the media was oblique. Any surprise that we now have surveillance capitalism?