Civic Hygiene – avoid building technologies that could be used by a police state (2013) (shkspr.mobi)

Article summary

The article discusses the concept of 'civic hygiene' and the importance of considering the potential misuse of technologies by a future government. It highlights the risks of building technologies that could be used to facilitate a police state, citing examples such as a database of people's sexualities. The article argues that it's not about distrusting the current government, but about being cautious of the potential for abuse by future governments. The author references security expert Bruce Schneier's statement on the need for 'civic hygiene' in technology development.

Main themes

• civic hygiene
• technology misuse
• open-source ethics
• military and surveillance use
• licensing and restrictions
• global implications

What commenters say

• Some argue that limiting licensed use of open-source code to non-military or non-surveillance purposes is impractical and potentially harmful.
• Others believe that developers have a moral obligation to consider the potential consequences of their work being used for harmful purposes.
• The use of open-source code in military and surveillance systems is seen as a complex issue, with some arguing that it can be used for both good and evil.
• There is disagreement over whether developers should prioritize the protection of their country's military interests or consider the global implications of their work.
• Some commenters think that attempting to restrict the use of open-source code through licensing is futile, as 'bad actors' will ignore such restrictions anyway.
• Others argue that even if enforcement is difficult, publicly stating a position against the use of their code for harmful purposes is still important.
• A few commenters express frustration with the idea of restricting the use of open-source code, arguing that it could hinder the development of beneficial technologies.
• The discussion also touches on the idea that the concept of 'protecting one's country' can be problematic and overly simplistic.