This is a closing message to my students at one of the institutions where I teach. They were assigned an online discussion on the topic of technology, and the implications for Homeland Security. Here is my "generic feedback" for those students at the close of the discussion forum. I trust that you will find it useful.
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Technology and Security
Of all of our discussions so far, no topic has had the potential
for abuse as does our increased reliance upon technology. While
technology is a tool, and technological advances can work miraculous things in
our lives, it should never be taken for granted or “worshipped” as our savior
and protector. Anything that has potential for great good also has
potential for supreme evil. (Remember this principle when politicians
promise to make your life better.) Placing
too much reliance upon technology results in false security. In that
sense, it makes us MORE vulnerable. Anything that empowers government
to the point where we, the people, are no longer in control, is a violation of
the fundamental principles of our republic.
While “hacking” is a threat (as many of you mentioned) hacking
by people with evil intent is probably NOT the GREATEST threat to our security,
however. The increased reliance upon technology has the very real potential of
turning us all into slaves of government (or some other elitist group).
Because technology is so convenient, we forget that it influences
our relationships (particularly our relationship to government) so greatly.
Our relationship to government is precisely why I want for us to never lose
sight of the founding principles. When you fail to link back to one or
more founding principles, I am concerned that your focus on (reliance upon)
technology has blinded you to the potential for great abuse of this powerful
tool by government. It can (has?) become the very tool that accomplishes our destruction.
Security and
convenience are natural enemies.
The more security
and privacy you want to maintain, the more inconvenient your life will become.
Store “loyalty” cards are touted as the best to help you remember your past
purchases (i.e. what color paint you bought to do that room last year) but it
also can reveal your shopping habits (times, places, purchases), online transactions,
etc.. ALL of this information becomes permanently recorded, and any
store that scans your drivers license for ID purposes connects (or may have the
ability to connect) all of that information to a central data base. Does it
matter to you if this database contains information about your purchases of
alcohol and tobacco products? What about personal hygiene
products? How about your video tastes or your preferred reading list?
Now with “universal health care” all of this has “health care” applications so
the government may access all of those records without a warrant, simply by
“requesting” it from private companies. (“I’ma gonna make ‘em a deal they
can’t refuse”.)
Be careful not wish for a government that can prevent bad
things from happening because a government that powerful, is also powerful
enough to take complete control of your life. If you are willing to
exchange your liberty for an empty promise of security, then you are already a
slave. Our founders wisely created a LIMITED government, for that very
reason. That is why I wanted you to always link back to the founding
principles.
When people have the ability to spy on you with your knowledge
or consent, then they have gone already far too far into your space. Do not be
beguiled into thinking that you have nothing to hide and therefore the intrusion
is benign. Evil people seek to dominate and since knowledge is power, the more
they know, they easier it will be to put pressure on you to do something you
may not want to do.
A local gas station offers ten cents/gallon off the pump
price if you use their loyalty card but that card is connected to your bank
account. Does that trade sound like it’s worth ten cents a gallon? Nothing
prevents this retailer from later changing the discount to five cents, or two
cents, or eliminating it altogether at some future date. Since their
numerous licenses (fuel, food, alcohol, etc.) are all government-issued, what
leverage do they have if government “requests” private information?
Technology enables the immediate “linking” together of
every snippet of information about you. An immediate (and accurate)
profile will not ascertain your identity, but with the addition of artificial
intelligence (AI) can become a predictor of your future behavior. Biometrics
(use of physical/biological information such as retina scans, bone density
scans, DNA, etc.) present significant privacy concerns since it requires
a person’s most intimate (body) information. While highly secure if used
properly, the potential for misuse by unauthorized persons will make your
medical information, banking information, security information, and
relationship information all subject to compromise and use against the individual.
It (biometrics) can make our security protocols more convenient but, as I noted
above, more convenient means (usually) LESS secure if “hacked” or used by
unscrupulous persons with access.
This would be a good time to mention social media. Facebook
and similar social media outlets are a rich source of Intel for anyone who
wants to take the time to use it. People post the most bizarre and
incriminating stuff imaginable. If someone else wanted to “play” with you
or even commit an atrocious crime against you or a family member, they have
access to a great deal of information that can help them plan their crime; all
of it likely provided BY YOU. All of us must practice security measures, and especially
so as more technology becomes more available at the personal level.
Blessings
Dr. Sterling
Edited 2019
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