Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Yes, the technology is here to watch everyone all the time, but do those who have it also have the ability to use it?

Each day I see yet another example of the reach of technology. Facial recognition seems to be the most recent target of the they-are-watching-us crowd. Little cameras are everywhere. Big databases are present—think of all those driver’s license photos. Put one and one together and there we have it.

Yes, we do have the technology. Let’s consider if anyone is able to put one and one together.

A few years ago I worked in a leading-edge technology shop in government. We had it. Yet we couldn’t keep track of the five of us in the office so that we knew if a person would be in the office or on the other coast on any given day. Calendars, especially those new-fangled Microsoft Calendar things in Outlook, were beyond our personal ability to master.

Therefore, when we see how “they” are watching us, we should ask, “Are they smart enough to watch us?” And consider that “they” work for the government. (At least now “they” do as the government is still the only organization that can put me in jail.)

In government, technical competence is not the most important factor to who is put in position to decide what to do. (See the writings of many on this topic if you don’t believe me.) There are government employees who are tenacious, hard-working, and don’t quit when pursuing persons intent on evil. Those persons are usually at the “working level,” not the “deciding level.” If you an evil doer, fear them. If you are just like the rest of us, no worries.

Their superiors are still struggling with that Calendar thing in Outlook and how to schedule a conference room and three other people.