LIVING IN THE SURVEILLANCE STATE ERA
PCQuest|November 2020
We left our anonymity behind in the 20th century. The 21st century has become the Century of Surveillance and 20 years into it, governments have picked up all the tools of the trade to spy on their citizens effectively. They are joined by big corporations, Big Tech in particular, along with various spying agencies, hackers and other bad state actors
Sunil Rajguru
LIVING IN THE SURVEILLANCE STATE ERA

At the turn of the century, when it came to technology, the whole world was consumed with the Y2K crisis or the Millennium Bug. Y2K stands for Year 2000 and it was felt that since computers only used the last two digits for the year, they wouldn’t be able to distinguish between 2000 and 1900, which would lead to grave errors. There could be pandemonium at the turn of the century. There were scares that computers would go bust, planes would go down, stock markets would crash etc. Some cults even predicted the end of the world. But we solved that problem without much fuss and India entered the path to becoming an It services superpower, getting a good chunk of the Y2K outsourcing market.

What really changed the world came a year later. The exact date being September 11, 2001, when the twin towers of the World trade Center in New York came down. 9/11 may have been a great geopolitical event, but it also led to the Patriot Act, which turned America into a surveillance state. The National security Agency (NSA) became all-powerful and it was just a matter of time before other countries and agencies followed suit.

The second factor was the rise of China as an It superpower and their use of tech to monitor citizens and streamline their activities effectively. Being a Communist country with no checks and balances, it was tech on steroids when compared to America. A credit score system was introduced. Facial recognition ensured that nobody could escape its reach. Artificial Intelligence became all-powerful. AI courts are gaining ground in China.

This story is from the November 2020 edition of PCQuest.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2020 edition of PCQuest.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PCQUESTView All
LOGITECH - G Pro X Superlight 2 Gaming Mouse
PCQuest

LOGITECH - G Pro X Superlight 2 Gaming Mouse

Logitech's G Pro X Superlight 2 arrives as the highly anticipated successor to its predecessor, the G Pro X Superlight, aiming to build upon the successes of the earlier model.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
VIEWSONIC - LX700-4K Laser Home Projector
PCQuest

VIEWSONIC - LX700-4K Laser Home Projector

The ViewSonic LX700-4K Laser Home Projector aims to provide an immersive cinematic experience, employing 3rd generation laser phosphor technology for vibrant visuals at 3,500 ANSI Lumens.

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024
Curating a future-ready business landscape with IoT-powered portfolios
PCQuest

Curating a future-ready business landscape with IoT-powered portfolios

The co-working industry exemplifies the pivotal role of technology in creating a future-ready business landscape. It's not just about adopting technology; it's about strategically positioning it at the core of the customer journey

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
The architecture and strategies of modern customer engagement
PCQuest

The architecture and strategies of modern customer engagement

From the cloud-native architecture on AWS and GCP to the intricacies of seamless integration and data privacy standards. Explore the scalability, performance measures, and the Retention OS that forms the backbone of cuttingedge customer engagement platform

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
Exploring mobile app security in the gaming industry
PCQuest

Exploring mobile app security in the gaming industry

In the expanding realm of mobile gaming, the imperative for robust security measures intensifies to effectively tackle challenges such as cheating, fraud, malware, and emerging threats

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
Precision progress: How AI is shaping the 'India Narrative' in 2024
PCQuest

Precision progress: How AI is shaping the 'India Narrative' in 2024

In a seismic shift, India's corporate leaders are redefining operational efficiency through the strategic integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen Al) and automation

time-read
6 mins  |
March 2024
How AI is reshaping the financial landscape
PCQuest

How AI is reshaping the financial landscape

AI transforms finance with fraud detection, algorithmic trading, customer service, and risk management. AI chatbots enhance interactions, automate compliance, and streamline data-driven decisions. The commitment to Aldriven innovation ensures efficient and customer-centric financial operations

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Education for all is a right and not a privilege
PCQuest

Education for all is a right and not a privilege

Discover how innovative minds are revolutionizing inclusive education for differently abled individuals. From immersive learning experiences to bridging communication gaps and empowering special educators, these trailblazers leverage cutting-edge technologies like AI and ML to break down barriers and envision a future where education is a right, not a privilege. Join the conversation on the transformative power of technology in shaping a truly inclusive educational landscape

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
The transformation unleashed by AI in gaming
PCQuest

The transformation unleashed by AI in gaming

Embark on a journey into the Newly Evolved Gaming World, where AI transforms gameplay into an immersive, lifelike experience. From Pac-Man's simple state machine to sophisticated algorithms in GTA V, witness the evolution of gaming intelligence

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
Advancements and challenges in AI Chip manufacturing
PCQuest

Advancements and challenges in AI Chip manufacturing

From the imperative need for cutting-edge technology to optimizing power, size, and cost, to the future landscape of AI chip development focusing on larger models and tightly coupled memory

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024