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Worse than something that was, but only in a technological sense. Surveillance today is more invasive, and pervasive. This is a direct result of technological advancement. So, unless you're talking strictly in those terms, then how the underlying surveillance capability is used must be taken into account. For example, the United States probably has the most advanced surveillance capability of any nation on Earth. Certainly, this capability has the potential for abuse. In fact, I'm sure it is abused, and that's bad. However, the underlying use is more or less in line with other Western governments. Contrast this with say, any hardcore authoritarian regime today using comparable technology, and it's a completely different magnitude of bad. So, I wouldn't say the U.S. is worse than the former Soviet Union in terms of surveillance, at least not in any moral sense. |
Why, does it have any other potential?
>However, the underlying use is more or less in line with other Western governments.
Nothing of the above is comforting.
>Contrast this with say, any hardcore authoritarian regime today using comparable technology, and it's a completely different magnitude of bad.
I dunno, at least most "authoritarian regimes" only mess with their residents. Whereas the US messes with its residents (somewhat for some groups, full on assault if you are black, see for e.g. incarceration rates), with 4-5 countries directly (invasion, etc), with 10-20 countries indirectly (threats, special "deals" from friendly lackeys put in power, etc), and all the world diplomatically.