[snugghash]

I'd like to modify that to be even more long-term - progress is where they know everything about you and can assist in everyone's best interest.

The individual is not necessarily the limit of happiness. IMO it's a very limited view on things, to consider individual as the epitome of affect.

[lifeisstillgood]

Yes - something like providing data on people's heart rates, shopping lists (eating habits) and medical records to NHS epidemiologists. I can imagine some interesting double blind experiments to come out of that. Do randomised controlled trial on middle ages men who eat grapefruits and take beta blockers - I mean how did they spot that one?

But I dont believe the good of society outweighs the good of the individual - simply because society is made up of individuals- so we do need to keep individual rights and protections at the top.