Twelve Days in Xinjiang....one of the most frightening things I've read recently

[FormerOstrich]

As depressing as the US news has been it pales in comparison to what I just read at the link below.

Unfortunately, I can see how it is just a matter of time before such permeates our way of life, too (but hopefully not in my lifetime). Those that "have nothing to hide" as they happily forego their freedoms should read this. Maybe visit Xinjiang. From piss testing to property foreclosures to hysteria about terrorists we have merrily been marching to the end of the plank.....

Twelve Days in Xinjiang: How China's Surveillance State Overwhelms Daily Life

[dhol82]

1. Visited Kashgar in July

Was part of a group traveling the old Silk Road into Pakistan.
The police and military presence was all over. Our local Uighur guide was simmering with anger. I am sure there will be violence at some point.

[lostnfound]

2. Fascinating

Several thoughts.
God damn WSJ... now we always have to second guess the reason for an article and the truth of it.

in a world where Trump admires Xi, what protection does the Uighur filmmaker have in Virginia?

Choice of words...where the Israeli government has created a system of checkpoints and biometric surveillance to keep tabs on Palestinians.”Keep tabs on” is a friendly thing you do with your young children. “Monitor” is what you do for the sake of security or danger. What a brilliant editor to use such diction.

Fascinating.

[FormerOstrich]

5. Spot on

and to your points:

so VERY true

Hadn't thought of that but true.

Hahaha....yes creative writing...don't get me started or I can rant for a long while.

INDEED!!

[onethatcares]

3. maybe it's just me, but

isn't there a new Iphone that allows you to use your face to turn it off and on, to pay for things.

It seems this surveillance thing is being paid for by the people being surveyed, willingly and at a fairly large cost to them right here in the good old U.S. of A.

Or am I mistaken?

[FormerOstrich]

4. You are correct....

I don't think the investments are limited to the US as cell phones are very global.

I think it predates the cell phone era and started with loyalty programs and other methods of capturing and aggregating data about us. We have just willingly volunteered and paid for all of it. I believe the younger generation(s) are even worse. The privacy issues don't even cross their minds.

More and more health insurances are insisting on workplace bio-metric monitoring. Send in your dna for some family history.

All sold as convenience, economical gains, and safety.

[onethatcares]

7. yes, that dna testing

scares the beeejeeeesus out of me.

I wonder how many agencies it gets shared with.

[uponit7771]

9. +1

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. There is a doll out now which connects to the house wi-fi automatically

Most parents have no idea it does that.
Other kids toys are being enabled to do same.

This Doll May Be Recording What Children Say, Privacy Groups Charge

https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/12/20/506208146/this-doll-may-be-recording-what-children-say-privacy-groups-charge

[dalton99a]

6. And that is how you keep people under control

[uponit7771]

10. Looks like in the overbearing self-control is keeping money from flowing I don't see that level ...

... of surveillance continuing in those Chinese provinces

[Saboburns]

8. DoublePlusUngood.

“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”

I love Big Brother.