Mass surveillance distracts from actual threats

Slightly dated, but makes the relevant point that blanket, mass surveillance of everyone produces far too much information for anyone to sift through.  Also, the ability of authorities to interpret actual relevant information is severely lacking.

Before 9/11, there was an abundance of intelligence of foreign individuals wanting to learn how to fly commercial jets.  The flight instructor even warned the FBI about them.

The Pulse nightclub shooter was reported by his own mosque, then interviewed by the FBI.

The moral is that there is no real defense against terrorism that can come from government.  The government has built surveillance/warfare state of unprecedented size on top of the idea that they can protect us, however.

Author: S. Smith