@404mediaco Good article. I’m a subscribed reader. Useful info and short enough to stay within the attention span of the post-GenX reader (the people most affected). Some thoughts:

1. It would be helpful to have a glossary of surveillance technology, annotated (to the extent possible) with its maturity and state of adoption. Same goes for (legal) counter-surveillance technology and techniques.

2. Cars and vehicle tracking is under-discussed, with the exception of license plates. For example, the multiple transmitters on newer cars, and vehicle recognition technology (e.g., anything unique about the appearance of your car.)

3. Remember that military and intelligence community tech is around 10 years more advanced than what is commercially available. Some may never be available to other government agencies, other tech can migrate into commercial use. To the extent reporters can and are willling to bring this tech into the light (it is usually classified ) it can help mitigate public tech surprises.

4. The issue of being identified and tracked is just part of the picture. We have little insight into how data about us it is used. Manipulation of beliefs and behavior is not discussed enough. Do not underestimate the existence and use of “persuasive technology”. It includes AI social media bots, sentiment analysis, individual networking patterns, and much more.