In 1971, a group of experts concluded that a digital payment system that tracks people would be the most effective but unobtrusive system they could imagine for a dictatorship. ( pages 10-11 of this pdf , or search for "Electronic Funds Transfer Systems" in this plaintext version )

Now that exists, we see it is indeed ideal for that purpose. So join me in promoting the use of cash -- by insisting on paying cash, and telling businesses "No cash? No sale."

Body cameras won't be effective to protect people from thugs if the rules for using them are set up to protect the thugs instead.

Bruce Schneier: Personal data is a toxic asset.

Just as in the case of toxic chemicals, we need laws to make the cost of the toxicity fall on the companies or government agencies that collect or accumulate the data. But that's not enough in the case of toxic chemicals, and it's not enough for toxic personal data either. We need to prohibit building systems such that they collect or save more that the smallest amount of data that they could collect or save.

USDA regulations, necessary for and designed for large food-processing companies, can put an end to the small companies that don't need them.

Israel bullied Facebook into imposing tight censorship on criticism of the occupation of Palestine.