Podbit · This Week in Tech (Audio)
China and the UK had mass surveillance pushed on them — and now nobody complains. Jason Hiner argues regulations matter less than norms and culture. The US is following the same playbook: ubiquitous cameras gradually become background noise, just like they did everywhere else.
Where this was said
At 15:00 · chapter starts 13:50
Following the Supreme Court story, the conversation broadens into a philosophical discussion about surveillance culture. Jason Hiner argues that cultural norms ultimately govern surveillance more than regulations, pointing to China and the UK where mass camera systems initially faced resistance but are now unremarkable. Lisa's daughter just returned from China and was genuinely unsettled by the ubiquity of cameras — a reaction, Lisa suggests, that American teenagers may soon lose entirely. Owen's daughter represents a counter-trend: a new youth aesthetic of intentionally not showing your face on social media, turning the camera away rather than toward yourself. The group also discusses Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, which now look indistinguishable from regular sunglasses, and Owen reveals you can pay $100 on Facebook Marketplace to have the recording indicator light removed.
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