[ExI] The NSA's new data center

[David Lubkin]

Stefano wrote:

>Only, you speak of "rights", I speak of practical empowerment.

I think law, society, and technology are intertwined.

The progression is often technology, then society, then law.

Technology makes something possible, then superior to its
alternatives, then obviously so to the general society. When
enough individuals are persuaded, there's sufficient social
pressure for the laws to follow.

Friction occurs when they're mismatched or when people
attempt to shorten the process of change by decree.

We as extropians need to be attuned to this. For example,
as much as cryonicists want changes in law and practice
so that people can be suspended pre-mortem or avoid
autopsies, they aren't going to happen until opinions change,
which won't happen until technology is and is perceived to
be workable.

Although: talking about these topics -- in classrooms, in
popular entertainment, in blogs -- lays the foundation, and
motivates some to invent. So that's an additional leg to
pursue.

And sometimes it seems like one person can unleash an
avalanche. Suppose that Gmail adds strong encryption
of outbound mail, and it is enabled by default.


-- David.