From: GBurch1@aol.com
Date: Sat Feb 03 2001 - 05:28:19 MST
[. . . taking my in-box out of order . . . ]
In a message dated 2/3/01 1:34:03 AM Central Standard Time,
johnmarlow@gmx.net writes:
[re impact of citizen recording of police behavior]
> Well, you know, I hate to wax realistic on you--but at the moment,
> this is not bogus; this is reality--and cyborgish humans are bogus.
> Reality has its drawbacks.
Ahh, but reality has a way of catching up with "bogus" ideas. First, recall
Rodney King. Second, note that the camera I bought to plug into my computer
recently (that I mentioned in another post a moment ago) cost less than $50
retail and is packaged in a plastic housing smaller than 4 cubic inches, most
of which is empty space. Third, note that video and audio data compression
technology continues to progress at an astonishing rate. Fourth, note that
the price of digital storage technology continues to drop precipitously.
Fifth, the price of the technology for detecting a device's position (i.e.
GPS) is also falling continuously. Finally, note that the intersection of
PDA and cell phone technology proceeds apace.
Put all these things together and you have at least the distinct possibility
that a significant number of "normal" people will at some point be carrying
audio-video recording devices that automagically note and record the time and
place of a specific recorded event. Although I by no means agree with all of
the moral conclusions he draws from observing these same facts and
possibilities, David Brin has made a strong case that the reality of a
populous equipped for ubiquitous audio-video recording will have a
significant impact on the legal system and society at large.
I don't think it's a big leap to project that by 2010 (2020 at the very
latest) an "always-on" audio-video PDA will be a CHEAP and universal item of
personal equipment. Yes, it's a bigger leap from there to an implant. But
even the "mature" external PDA will have significant impact. For instance, I
can easily imagine that at a certain point a practical presumption will be
raised that a person has a right to keep her PDA with her and on throughout
any encounter with the police. Such a common-sense presumption would lead to
effects on the relationship of citizens to the police as great or greater
than Miranda and its progeny.
Greg Burch <GBurch1@aol.com>----<gburch@lockeliddell.com>
Attorney ::: Vice President, Extropy Institute ::: Wilderness Guide
http://users.aol.com/gburch1 -or- http://members.aol.com/gburch1
ICQ # 61112550
"We never stop investigating. We are never satisfied that we know
enough to get by. Every question we answer leads on to another
question. This has become the greatest survival trick of our species."
-- Desmond Morris
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