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>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. 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. |
Saving the civilized world from the clutches of terrorism, lining pockets, maintaining a global hegemony.
The last item isn't necessarily a bad thing, depending on your point of view.
> I dunno, at least most "authoritarian regimes" only mess with their residents. Whereas the US messes with its residents ...
Fortunately, the U.S. has not yet made a habit of disappearing human rights activists and dissidents on a whim.