TED Talks Daily What is a weapon in the Information Age? | Sharon Weinberger
Dec 1, 2020
Sharon Weinberger, a seasoned journalist specializing in military and intelligence impacts on technology, dives into the shadowy world of surveillance in the Information Age. She discusses how tools like DNA tracking and facial recognition are transforming into modern weapons, often deployed by authoritarian regimes. A call to action emerges—governments must start classifying these surveillance technologies as dangerous. Weinberger emphasizes the urgent need for regulation as the privatized market thrives on commodifying citizen oversight.
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Uzbekistan Surveillance Tech
- A defense consultant marketed surveillance tech to the Uzbek government, including voice print and location tracking.
- He considered this just another part of the arms trade, made easier by the lack of export licenses.
Surveillance Tools as Weapons
- Surveillance tools are currently unregulated and not defined as weapons, despite their potential for misuse.
- These tools should be classified as weapons and regulated accordingly.
The Rise of the Spy Bazaar
- The private spy market originated around 2002, spurred by the Patriot Act's increased surveillance powers.
- A conference called ISS World, held near the CIA, brought together companies building spy technologies.