Again and again, I try to point out that dogmas are seldom our friends. Take the trend, in our civilization, toward
expanding our horizons of worry, opportunity and (above all) inclusion. That
moral arc has been historic and important and it must continue! Indeed, passionate agitation for reform has
its vital place. Though as I show, the advances we’ve made (and must keep
making) have also happened because of economic and psychological and pragmatic reasons.
This should make fans of progress happy! It means that our
moral march forward, toward inclusiveness, tolerance and diversity, has strong
support from traits other than just indignation.
Shall we test it? I am about to say something about the “BlackLives Matter” movement -- something that is utterly friendly and supportive… and I hope this pragmatic suggestion will be well-received.
Yes! Absolutely, almost-weekly tales about tragic
victims-of-racism like Eric Garner and Walter Scott (shot in the back), Samuel DuBose (shot in the face) and Sandra Bland have
rocked America, revealing what black activists have been telling us for
years. About the danger they face – each
day – from that percentage (even if it is small) of police officers who are thugs
in uniform. It has to be frustrating for
the righteous activists.
“Oh, now you’re
finally starting to believe us? Now that
cameras are catching the bastards in the act?”
Well… um… yes? Many
of us believed you before the current wave of video revelation began with
Rodney King. But of course the balance of credibility shifted dramatically when cameras spread even wider. And yes, visual proof is sure gonna help. Which raises the central question here –
Think. What is making the biggest difference today? Technology! The phone-cam is turning
into a Great Equalizer, even more than a Colt 45 was in the old west. Every year cameras get faster, cheaper,
better, more numerous and more mobile, at a rate faster than Moore’s Law. And
so far, the chief result has not been Big Brother! It has been empowerment of
average citizens. Cameras - and other tech - are helping people hold elites accountable.
== This was
inevitable ==
All right, I predicted this way back, via a 1989 novel
Earth, portraying ghetto youths and the elderly defending themselves this way,
in the 2030s. It’s happening quicker in real life.
Even closer was the forecast in my nonfiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Make Us Choose Between Privacy and Freedom? (1997). There I described a scene of the near future, when each cop would be wearing a recording device… and every person stopped for a traffic violation would step out of the car asking “what’s the problem, officer?”… with a blinking shoulder cam of his or her own.
Even closer was the forecast in my nonfiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Make Us Choose Between Privacy and Freedom? (1997). There I described a scene of the near future, when each cop would be wearing a recording device… and every person stopped for a traffic violation would step out of the car asking “what’s the problem, officer?”… with a blinking shoulder cam of his or her own.
Can you honestly doubt that day is far away, any longer?
Which brings up again that core question. In addition to hands up! and Black Lives
Matter! Why aren’t you also shouting “We
want more tech!”
Why aren’t you focusing on what has actually made the
biggest difference, so far – getting more and more cameras out there, into the
hands (better yet, onto the shoulders) of youths and others who are in
danger? Perhaps demanding pertinent tech
classes in minority area high schools? Or asking your nerdier kids to help
equip the others with tools they need to save their lives?
Here’s where a couple of billionaires might be approached
for grants, financing the development and distribution of hands-free (that’s
important!) shoulder-cams that upload directly to free storage in the cloud.
Flood some problematic city with these things, as a test… and watch how quickly the
balance starts to change.
A balance between
bad cops and the more numerous good ones, who now will feel empowered – and highly
motivated, with active citizen help -- to rid their ranks of bullies and thugs.
Sure, "Black Lives Matter!" But if you really want to leverage the trend that is practically changing everything, you will add another cry:
"Give us more tech!"
Sure, "Black Lives Matter!" But if you really want to leverage the trend that is practically changing everything, you will add another cry:
"Give us more tech!"
Following up. This Slate report gives detailed background to the growing legal consensus that you
have a right to record your interactions with police, a right that has been
declared "settled law" by both the Obama Justice Department and four federal circuit courts. This abstraction gained fiercely palpable
pertinence in the case of the recent arrest of Sandra Bland, which was captured
by the arresting officer's dash cam.
"Dashcam footage of Sandra Bland’s arrest is disturbing for a number of reasons—including
trooper Brian Encinia’s apparent use of excessive force in subduing
Bland. But for civil liberties advocates, a less dramatic moment of the footage
is nearly as disquieting. When Bland attempts to film the encounter on her
cellphone, Encinia demands that she “get off the phone.” When Bland insists
that she has “a right to record,” Enchain repeatedly barks, “PUT YOUR PHONE
DOWN!” Eventually, she does. It’s clear she had no choice."
And there you have the reason why we need special Shoulder Cams (as I portrayed in The Transparent Society). Autonomous and automatically uploading to the Cloud. So that you can emerge from the car with completely open hands.
Demand this tech. Work with a Good Billionaire. Choose a city and distribute these things en masse. Do the test now.
And there you have the reason why we need special Shoulder Cams (as I portrayed in The Transparent Society). Autonomous and automatically uploading to the Cloud. So that you can emerge from the car with completely open hands.
Demand this tech. Work with a Good Billionaire. Choose a city and distribute these things en masse. Do the test now.
== An inexcusable
omission ==
Sorry, but the point must be belabored. What activist or pundit seems
willing to emphasize the role that technology has played in this ongoing revolution,
transforming and shifting power on our streets? That omission is bizarre… and somewhat culpable… since our main
goal should be a pragmatic one. The practical ending of these abuses!
It is time to add a
new slogan. One that may offer less
opportunity for righteous rage, but that promises a stronger chance to actually
solve problems.
Give us more tech!
====
SINCE POSTING THIS: From yesterday's NY Times on the Cincinnati case: "She (Dubose's mother) and other family members said that if it were not for the body camera worn by Officer Tensing, his story would have been accepted and he would have gone unpunished. Choking back tears, Terina Allen, a sister of Mr. Dubose, said, “Every day now, I’m going to be marching for video cams."
Right on. Turn em on.
====
SINCE POSTING THIS: From yesterday's NY Times on the Cincinnati case: "She (Dubose's mother) and other family members said that if it were not for the body camera worn by Officer Tensing, his story would have been accepted and he would have gone unpunished. Choking back tears, Terina Allen, a sister of Mr. Dubose, said, “Every day now, I’m going to be marching for video cams."
Right on. Turn em on.