A wake-up call
Today I read the disturbing news that the farmers protesting in India were shot with rubber bullets and tear gas using drones. Drones! India joins the shortlist of nations using such technology against its own citizens. What a remarkable precedent set for the world and for future Indian governments! Sarcasm aside, what makes me afraid is how rapidly technology is advancing, and how the laws to curb its overreach are not advancing at the same pace. Drones, AI, surveillance tools--most of this tech is beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. Imagine what a powerful entity that wields these tools can do. This leaves the citizens at the mercy of the government to act in good faith and protect their interests. But what happens when the powerful entity in question is the government itself? Today it was the farmers, exercising their right to protest. Next, the government will send drones to scare away people protesting corruption and oppressive policies. The people of India have gotten into the
