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Notes -
Is there anything I as an individual can do to push back against Flock cameras or broader mass surveillance in the US?
Reading 1984 as a sixth grader I was horrified by Big Brother and the authoritarianism illustrated in the book and always felt that if those things came to life it would be right and imperative to fight against them, and every year I’ve seen more and more authoritarian overreach that disturbs me.
I do not vote as I believe it’s a massive waste of time at best. I am not fond of solutions such as “call your congressperson” or “show up to your local council and demand change” because these are similarly time wasting activities in my opinion.
I am frustrated by the acceptance of the public for these technologies with terrible implications for the present and the future. I don’t want to break the law in order to fight them and don’t want to become more of a target, which seems inevitable if you want to speak against it publicly. I feel very disappointed in people around me and the modern west when I realize the state of mass surveillance today.
You should vote.
The cost is not actually that high: a few hours a year, right?
The benefit is, of course, abysmal. It gets better for local elections. I suspect you could push it further by spending more time and effort signaling your single-issue status. But on its own your vote is near worthless.
More importantly, it is a good categorical imperative. You should vote because people similar to you should vote.
I mean, you should vote. But if you want something higher impact, volunteer with local campaigns that oppose flock cameras. Many local elections are nonpartisan and people are simply lost as to who to vote for; a door knock or a phone call can replace the all important (R) or (D).
More importantly, if the politicians are aware of your campaign and it size and influence they'll be more likely to sway on that issue. Even if you don't swing the election, the threat that you could maybe nudge the polls a bit will make both candidates more likely to want to curry favor with you on your issue.
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