[jaapbadlands]

I agree about one person or organisation too much power, and fear the potential for abuse, but the problem in the Iran example are the theocratic laws, not really the tools that help enforce them. Good behaviour is already defined by each nation's legislation.

[sterlind]

some tools make it too easy to enforce bad laws at scale. it's a lot of work for the morality police to catch up to every woman who removes her hijab and cart her to jail. unless you're watching all the women all the time, they'll often get away with it. mass surveillance really takes a lot of the legwork out of running a repressive regime.

[snapplebobapple]

This has a broader purpoae in democracy. Laws change as people realize they are stupid and disobey them then opinion changes and the law catches up. The chance of being caughy and/or the punishment cant be too high to short circuit this for all but the most obviously bad crimes (ie murder, large scale theft, rape)

[raxxorraxor]

It is pretty much both. And these tools are ineffective for security anyway.