#Surveillance Society

[vintagenews]

Source and details.

[studentmeyag]

PSYCHO-PASS

Psyco-Pass is an anime that takes place in a dystopian Japan that is under constant surveillance by a program know as the Sibyl System. This determines a person’s state of mind and tells officers how to deal with the situation. This show has a lot to say about surveillance society. First off, in this reality, officers don’t assess situations. Their free thought is not used, instead a machine tells them what to do. This internalized complacency makes it so there is not much true free will in this society. These machines remove any complex emptions, like empathy, and instead use data to decide if a man should live or die. Akane is the first character to really notice and criticize this.

The system also deems people ‘latent criminals,’ making it so that there is no notion of being guilty until proven innocent in this society. There is a clear social hierarchy created by this system. Those with a clear ‘psycho-pass’ look down on the latent criminals for even being capable of committing a crime even if none was committed. This classification of people is a very real concern globally. In the article Machine Bias, the author describes how systems that determine how likely someone is to commit a crime removes aspects of “individualized and equal justice” that the judicial system must have.

The universe of Psycho-Pass is constantly surveilled, so it is filled with evidence. Ironically, when it is time to investigate a complex criminal, those in charge don’t even know how to properly analyze evidence because it has always been predetermined. Tomomi expresses how people don’t even know how to run a jury because society has become one where it was felt that due process and human analysis wasn’t necessary.

In the end the show turns out to be a panopticism as the Sibyl System wasn’t what they thought it was. The supposed program was run on the minds of sociopaths, ultimately implying that a society that that surveilled is devoid of empathy and in the end was never just to begin with. I really enjoyed this anime and would recommend it to anyone who has yet to see it.

[spaceintruderdetector]

In Paris, a static video camera keeps watch on a bourgeois home. In Portland, a webcam documents the torture and murder of kidnap victims. And in clandestine intelligence offices around the world, satellite technologies relentlessly pursue the targets of global conspiracies. Such plots represent only a fraction of the surveillance narratives that have become commonplace in recent cinema. Catherine Zimmer examines how technology and ideology have come together in cinematic form to play a functional role in the politics of surveillance. Drawing on the growing field of surveillance studies and the politics of contemporary monitoring practices, she demonstrates that screen narrative has served to organize political, racial, affective, and even material formations around and through surveillance. She considers how popular culture forms are intertwined with the current political landscape in which the imagery of anxiety, suspicion, war, and torture has become part of daily life. From Enemy of the State and The Bourne Series to Saw, Caché and Zero Dark Thirty, Surveillance Cinema explores in detail the narrative tropes and stylistic practices that characterize contemporary films and television series about surveillance.

Surveillance Cinema : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

[j-august]

Puritans were riddled with anxiety and submitted themselves to pitiless self-examination. Yet Josselin, even when life unravelled and hurt, remained grateful for 'His wisdom and providence'. It was a surveillance society of the soul and it is no wonder that it cultivated anxieties and paranoia.

Paul Lay, Providence Lost

[msilverstar]

Zoom will not use call content to train their AI, without an opt-in. And many people are opting-in to get their calls recorded and transcribed, including journalists.

The company quickly responded with a blog post on Monday stressing that it “will not use audio, video, or chat customer content to train our artificial intelligence models without your consent,” and adding a line to the terms to make this clearer. Online privacy experts say that this policy is now accurately reflected in the document. However, the terms do still allow Zoom to train AI on other data, such as how customers behave — and they question how much choice some meeting participants will have to opt out if, say, their boss decides otherwise.

I've heard really good things about Jitsi, which is open source and thus more reliably secure if the server is protected and the version is kept up to date.

Need a better breakdown? Tiktok attached below that explains Zoom's new Terms of Service:

What about folks who have therapy via Zoom? Court hearings? The list goes on. If you've got any Zoom alternatives, or maybe preference for one of the ones we listed with why, reblog please!

Image Description Below.

[ID: Screenshot of a tweet by Ted Gioia @/tedgioia from 1 day ago. They write, "Zoom terms of service now require you to allow AI to train on ALL your data--audio, facial recognition, private conversations--unconditionally and irrevocably, with no opt out. Don't try to negotiate with our new overlords." Gioia then has as a screenshot attached highlighting different lines from Zoom's new Terms of Services. The text in the image is small but can be read to say:

10.2 Service Generated Data; Consent to Use. Customer Content does not include any telemetry data, product usage data, diagnostic data, and similar content or data that Zoom collects or generates in connection with your or your End Users’ use of the Services or Software (“Service Generated Data”). As between you and Zoom, all right, title, and interest in and to Service Generated Data, and all Proprietary Rights therein, belong to and are retained solely by Zoom. You agree that Zoom compiles and may compile Service Generated Data based on Customer Content and use of the Services and Software. You consent to Zoom’s access, use, collection, creation, modification, distribution, processing, sharing, maintenance, and storage of Service Generated Data for any purpose, to the extent and in the manner permitted under applicable Law, including for the purpose of product and service development, marketing, analytics, quality assurance, machine learning or artificial intelligence (including for the purposes of training and tuning of algorithms and models), training, testing, improvement of the Services, Software, or Zoom’s other products, services, and software, or any combination thereof, and as otherwise provided in this Agreement. In furtherance of the foregoing, if, for any reason, there are any rights in such Service Generated Data which do not accrue to Zoom under this Section 10.2 or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, you hereby unconditionally and irrevocably assign and agree to assign to Zoom on your behalf, and you shall cause your End Users to unconditionally and irrevocably assign and agree to assign to Zoom, all right, title, and interest in and to the Service Generated Data, including all Proprietary Rights relating thereto.

A tweet by John Rogers @/jonrog1 replies, "I ... don't think @/Zoom understands every single TV company and movie studio now has to drop them. Never mind the HIPAA issues. Yikes."

The youth volunteers of Better Future Program @/bfpnola write under these screenshots via Instagram, "We've been talking about this in our Discord server as of last night since we host our meetings in Zoom and we've been researching alternatives, especially ones that are end-to-end encrypted and we know other activists use, like Jitsi, Disroot, Matrix, and ofc Signal. Got any other ones?"

Finally there is an Instagram question sticker asking for Zoom alternatives. /End ID.]

[soonintheclouds]

Pastors’ Point of View (PPOV) no. 292. Prophecy update. Drs. Andy Woods & Jim McGowan. 3-8-24.

Prophecy update. Topics covered: Israel, Gog-Magog, Surveillance Society, Persecution, Decline of the USA, Societal sins.

[hypokeimena]

those like white republican woman security theatre tiktoks also get me bc like you can see their houses and. lock that front door all you want but it is NOT going to keep out a determined someone with an axe or perhaps a man door hand hook.

[queen-mabs-revenge]

found 'the way' a really interesting piece of speculative fiction exploring the idea of anti-migrant xenophobic violence being turned inwards towards 'legitimate citizens' when interests of capital are threatened by struggle, but this sequence in the last episode def stood out to me as a neoluddite.

feels connected to this quote from dan mcquillan's 'resisting ai - an anti-fascist approach to artificial intelligence':

Bergson argued that if one accepts a ready- made problem in this way, "one might just as well say that all truth is already virtually known, that its model is patented in the administrative offices of the state, and that philosophy is a jig- saw puzzle where the problem is to construct with the pieces society gives us the design it is unwilling to show us." (Deleuze, 2002, cited in Coleman, 2008) In other words, however sophisticated or creative AI might seem to be, its modelling is stuck in abstractions drawn from the past, and so becomes a rearrangement of the way things have been rather than a reimagining of the way things could be. AI has, in effect, an inbuilt political commitment to the status quo, in particular to existing structures that embed specific relations of power. The absence of different concepts leaves out the possibility of conceiving that things could be arranged differently.

[zenosanalytic]

one of the most pernicious things about social media phone apps is how it has trained so many damn people to casually violate other people’s privacy.

It’s so fucked up how tiktok culture has made clout-poisoned people turn the public into content, every day I see people minding their business have their entire faces put online for thousands of likes, a couple kissing on the train, a lady dancing across a cross walk, a guy nodding his head to the music at a club, a lady buying a banana at the store, ring camera footage of the neighbors kids being stupid. Just let people live jfc

[lookingglasswolf]

Gale Hansen in blue jeans appreciation post

Under Surveillance (1991)

[omegaphilosophia]

The Social Consequences of Marketing

Marketing, while essential for businesses and economies, has also been criticized for causing harm to society in various ways. Here are some significant ways in which marketing has negatively impacted society:

1. Promotion of Consumerism

Excessive consumption: Marketing often encourages the idea that happiness and success are linked to material goods, promoting a culture of consumerism. This has led to excessive consumption, debt, and environmental damage, as people are driven to buy more than they need.

Planned obsolescence: Companies sometimes design products with limited lifespans, encouraging consumers to buy new versions frequently. This practice contributes to waste, depletion of resources, and increased consumer spending.

2. Exploitation of Insecurities

Body image and self-esteem: Advertising in industries like fashion, beauty, and fitness often exploits people's insecurities by promoting unrealistic beauty standards. This can lead to mental health issues such as low self-esteem, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and even eating disorders.

Fear-based marketing: Some marketing strategies use fear to sell products, such as insurance, security systems, or health products, by making consumers feel unsafe or inadequate without them.

3. Targeting Vulnerable Populations

Children: Marketing often targets children, who are particularly susceptible to persuasive messages. This leads to the commercialization of childhood, with kids exposed to unhealthy food, consumerist values, and a materialistic mindset from an early age.

Low-income groups: Companies sometimes market harmful products, such as payday loans or unhealthy foods, more aggressively to low-income populations, exacerbating financial hardship or health problems.

4. Perpetuation of Stereotypes and Social Divides

Gender roles: Marketing often reinforces gender stereotypes, portraying women as caregivers or men as breadwinners, thereby perpetuating outdated norms that limit gender equality and diversity.

Cultural appropriation and tokenism: Some brands use cultural symbols or minority groups in marketing campaigns without understanding their significance, which can lead to cultural appropriation and tokenism, alienating and misrepresenting marginalized communities.

5. Environmental Damage

Overemphasis on fast fashion and disposable goods: Marketing has contributed to the rise of fast fashion and a throwaway culture, promoting short-term use of cheap, disposable products. This has serious environmental consequences, including pollution, resource depletion, and the generation of vast amounts of waste.

Greenwashing: Some companies falsely market products as "environmentally friendly" or "sustainable" in an attempt to capitalize on consumers' eco-consciousness, misleading the public and delaying genuine action on environmental issues.

6. Manipulation and Misinformation

False advertising: Companies sometimes make exaggerated or false claims about their products, misleading consumers and creating false expectations. This can be particularly harmful when it comes to health products, pharmaceuticals, or weight-loss treatments.

Addictive design: Marketing techniques are increasingly used to promote addictive behaviors, particularly in the context of social media, video games, or gambling. Companies manipulate users through behavioral nudges and psychological triggers that keep them hooked.

7. Invasion of Privacy

Data mining and surveillance: With the rise of digital marketing, companies have gained unprecedented access to consumers’ personal data. Many firms engage in data mining and targeted advertising based on individuals' online behavior, often without full transparency or consent, leading to concerns about privacy and data security.

Personalization and manipulation: Highly personalized marketing can lead to manipulation, as companies can target individuals with ads tailored to their specific vulnerabilities, making it harder for consumers to make objective decisions.

8. Promotion of Unhealthy Lifestyles

Junk food advertising: Aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods, particularly to children, has been linked to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases.

Alcohol and tobacco marketing: Despite restrictions in some countries, marketing of alcohol, tobacco, and vaping products continues to glamorize these potentially harmful substances, leading to addiction and public health crises.

9. Contributing to Financial Instability

Credit and debt marketing: Marketing of credit cards, loans, and other financial products often promotes spending beyond one's means, contributing to personal debt and financial instability. Predatory lending practices, such as payday loans, are frequently marketed to those already in financial difficulty.

10. Reduction of Authenticity and Creativity

Commercialization of art and culture: Marketing can sometimes reduce art, culture, and creativity to mere products to be sold, stripping them of their authenticity. This can lead to the commodification of creative expression and a focus on profit over substance.

Trend exploitation: By constantly pushing new trends, marketing fosters a culture of superficiality and short-term thinking, where value is placed on what is fashionable or trending rather than what is meaningful or lasting.

While marketing plays a critical role in the economy by connecting consumers with products, it also has significant social, psychological, and environmental consequences. From promoting overconsumption and exploiting insecurities to targeting vulnerable groups and contributing to environmental degradation, marketing practices have often prioritized profit over societal well-being. Reforming marketing to be more ethical and socially responsible is essential for creating a healthier, more sustainable society.

[eatshrimpdie]

Slippery pumps? original collage

[micer2012]

PERSONA SIX (by me and @psihawaii, don't worry you don't have to understand it to know its the best thing that anyones ever made) feel free to ask questions i'd LOVE to answer them. theyre our babies

[shrinkrants]

The technological society… will not be a universal concentration camp, for it will be guilty of no atrocity. It will not seem insane, for everything will be ordered, and the stains of human passion will be lost amid the chromium gleam. We shall have nothing more to lose, and nothing to win. Our deepest instincts and our most secret passions will be analyzed, published, and exploited. We shall be rewarded with everything our hearts ever desired. And the supreme luxury of the society of technical necessity will be to grant the bonus of useless revolt and of an acquiescent smile. (p. 427)

This sharp paragraph was not written in the 1990s, nor in the 2010s, nor in recent years. It appeared in French sociologist and philosopher Jacques Ellul’s treatise The Technological Society, originally published in 1954 and translated into English with Robert Merton’s introduction in 1964. Ellul was concerned with the emergence of a technological tyranny over humanity and the totality of efficiency, and in this classic book he masterly elaborated on these substantial issues. Quite a few claimed 70 years ago and even decades later that Ellul was too provocative, that he overstated and exaggerated. Rereading his significant and penetrating observations in the current age evokes different thoughts and reactions. What is certain is that we are only at the beginning of this age. So is it possible that even we are far from understanding the essence of Ellul’s alerting words?

To reflect more on this crucial topic dive into these insightful books for which Ellul’s The Technological Society laid the groundwork: — Beer, David. 2019. The Social Power of Algorithms. Routledge. — Fisher, Eran. 2022. Algorithms and Subjectivity: The Subversion of Critical Knowledge. Routledge — Fisher, Max. 2022. The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World. Little, Brown and Company. — Schwarz, Ori. 2021. Sociological Theory for Digital Society: The Codes that Bind us Together. John Wiley & Sons. — Zuboff, Shoshana. 2018. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. Profile Books

[plethoraworldatlas]

apparently some Tumblr funnyman author decided to go to bat for "AI" (it was only a matter of time) and in addition to the same old weak defenses, they held up the EFF's AI opinions as another defense, despite the fact that the EFF has rightfully been criticized for how weak and naive those opinions are. "You can't regulate using AI because big companies would just ignore it/pay fines and do it anyway (amazing stance for an activist group to take)", or "you can't reform copyright to take into account AI because you would have to reform copyright law which is controlled by big companies and thus impossible (AMAZING stance for activists to take)". And another defense, not from the EFF but from a certain subsect of people who treat their stance as gospel, "You can't reform copyright law to actually be useful to small artists because don't you know art isn't labor, artists are all big corporations or ivory tower wine drinking brunch club elites, and anyone who actually wants things like royalties or to be able to live even in part from their artistic labor, let alone doesn't want the work they make fed to the garbage word scrambling genie machine are actually stealing from the "real poor"/are class traitors/etc."

[soonintheclouds]

Pastors’ Point of View (PPOV) no. 291. Prophecy update. Drs. Andy Woods & Jim McGowan. 3-1-24.

Prophecy update. Topics covered: Israel, Gog-Magog, Surveillance Society, USA Decline, Apostasy.