So far we have been unable to display the foresight to understand the capabilities of our tech and how it can affect us (both positively and negatively). We continue to want more and more, quicker and quicker. We are consumed with consuming the newer and “better” version of something that has just become new the previous year. China seems to have been carrying out a plan for years and they continue to do so. As we all know, China makes products and sells them to the U.S. for cheap. Additionally, it is estimated that China steals up to $600 Billion (with a B) in intellectual property from the U.S. on a yearly basis. This is money that would otherwise be circulating in our economy, not theirs. So, not only are they stealing hundreds of billions of dollars in tech annually, we are also paying them for the cheap products they make for us. Basically, the United States is paying for the advancement of China. Because of our online presence they know what we want to purchase, where we make those purchases, and how to manipulate our purchases. What other information is available on us as individuals in the United States? Let’s take a look at social media. For years data has been collected on U.S. people through Twitter and Facebook. Algorithms are designed to keep giving you content that you want. If you like Trump, it floods you with like minded content. If you like a certain cause, you’ll get that as well. Naturally this constant push of information will enhance any biases that you already have thus producing a proliferation of the already formed dichotomy in this country. Knowing this, we now realize that not only are we benefiting other governments, we are hurting ours (and our sanity) at the same time. Apparently, sadly, we always seem to take the bait and allow ourselves to be openly manipulated by the platforms we keep coming back to. See Russia and the 2016 election or Cambridge Analytica. This ease of access to information is actually making us dumber because we don’t think (critically) for ourselves anymore. We just like and share something (possibly made by a foreign government) and type “This” or “Yaaassss” or “Truth” or anything that requires an extremely minute amount of brain power and energy. As always, I digress. The U.S. has very little limits on what we do on social media (besides the mob of cancel culture people that seek out any wrongdoing as if we are perfect). This means that other governments can easily get access to all of our information from things we’ve gladly posted online. This is the equivalent of handing the Russian FSB a dossier of yourself and everything you’ve done the last decade. As China and Russia have limits on their social media, the FBI or CIA do not have the ability to do this to our adversaries with such ease. Our individual security needs to drastically improve and we collectively need to get better. Imagine visiting another country where you need to get a VISA to enter. They could potentially have pages upon pages of information about you and your family. This means that they can tailor your visit as well by taking advantage of the knowledge that they have easily acquired. Awareness is the first step, take it easy on social media, and seek out informative/useful knowledge. The need to state your opinion or to “be right” is far less important than your personal security.
Readings to consider: The Fifth Domain by Richard Clarke and Robert Knake; Sandworm by Andy Greenberg
Wilks Wroasting 