Our fear of being constantly watched by those in power—like what happens in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four—has driven us to prevent it from happening (for now). Although there is more surveillance technology than ever before, Orwell’s heavy warning caused us to be more vigilant, especially when holding those in power accountable. They can’t control us through surveillance because we can fight back with the same tech. We ensure that the camera lenses are “point[ing] both ways”; if they watch us, we’ll watch them and hold them responsible. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
