Re: On January 28th, Criminals No Longer Another Face in the Tampa Stadium Crowd

From: Chris Russo (extropy@russo.org)
Date: Thu Feb 01 2001 - 07:56:54 MST


>Makes you afraid to show your face in public--criminal or no.
>Next the thing will trap suspected criminals as they pass through a
>gateway.
>
>Welcome to the future.

What's the difference between this system and being in a small town,
where the local police officers know who the typical "trouble makers"
are?

What's the difference between this system and having a large team of
police officers, who have thoroughly studied hundreds of photos of
felons and wanted criminals, watching near the gate?

No matter how you slice it, law enforcement is intrusive. It's hard
to make a case against the use of technology in law enforcement just
because it's more thorough at its job. They're not breaking into
anyones' houses. They're not tapping anyones' phone conversations.
They're not racially profiling and detaining people. So what's the
problem besides the fact that they're now better at their jobs?

Personally, I think that there's too much real crime in our society,
so solutions like this that don't violate anyones' rights don't
bother me.

Chris Russo

-- 
"If anyone can show me, and prove to me, that I am wrong in thought 
or deed, I will gladly change.  I seek the truth, which never yet 
hurt anybody.  It is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance 
which does harm."
              -- Marcus Aurelius, MEDITATIONS, VI, 21



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 09:56:27 MDT