diff --git a/lawvstechnology b/lawvstechnology new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d44ff1 --- /dev/null +++ b/lawvstechnology @@ -0,0 +1,56 @@ +To: cypherpunks@toad.com +Subject: law vs technology +From: "Wei Dai" +Date: Fri, 10 Feb 1995 13:32:02 -0800 +Priority: normal +Reply-To: weidai@eskimo.com +Sender: owner-cypherpunks@toad.com +-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- + +Recently there's been a great deal of discussion on this list +about upcoming legislations (HR666 S314 etc.). Maybe it's time +to step back a little and look at the bigger picture. I've +been assuming (perhaps incorrectly) for some time that most +cypherpunks hold a belief somewhat like the following: + +There has never been a government that didn't sooner or later +try to reduce the freedom of its subjects and gain more control +over them, and there probably never will be one. Therefore, +instead of trying to convince our current government not to +try, we'll develop the technology (e.g., remailers and ecash) +that will make it impossible for the government to succeed. +Efforts to influence the government (e.g., lobbying and +propaganda) are important only in so far as to delay its +attempted crackdown long enough for the technology to mature +and come into wide use. + +But even if you do not believe the above is true, think about +it this way: If you have a certain amount of time to spend on +advancing the cause of greater personal privacy (or freedom, or +cryptoanarchy, or whatever), can you do it better by using the +time to learn about cryptography and develop the tools to +protect privacy, or by convincing your government not to invade +your privacy? I argue that since there are many more people +doing the former (EFF, CPSR, etc) than latter, that you'd be +more effective if you spent the time on the former. + +Wei Dai + + +-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- +Version: 2.6.2 + +iQCVAwUBLzvayTl0sXKgdnV5AQEBvAP+MqsGer5pg2xM6+pYG7DgCSttUyAoG8I6 +Hm/atFUdRauZ1WREpi3XTXEmNgT9m+QuON5+6rnUrfkizAdjr9EPFnXxMa8am8TZ +W7iQBuKb/KktbClbQyKzndeAOQ3oIOi4ahdn5eseOCWc3wX/WcjR6w9WJ6yPWoTJ +6fcglCGgo/8= +=Pc1V +-----END PGP SIGNATURE----- + +E-mail: Wei Dai URL: "http://www.eskimo.com/~weidai" +=================== Exponential Increase of Complexity =================== +--> singularity --> atoms --> macromolecules --> biological evolution +--> central nervous systems --> symbolic communication --> homo sapiens +--> digital computers --> internetworking --> close-coupled automation +--> broadband brain-to-net connections --> artificial intelligence +--> distributed consciousness --> group minds --> ? ? ?