undefined | Better HN

0 pointsfalcor841y ago0 comments

I've been thinking about this recently and am somewhat concerned that we're moving towards a world where every single interaction between person and machine, and increasingly between two people or even between a person and the physical environment, is being recorded and stored for eternity. There's just so much potential for abuse here.

0 comments

2 comments · 1 top-level

Bluestein1y ago· 1 in thread

> environment, is being recorded and stored for eternity

I'd posit, precisely, that it isn't eternity. But a putative eternity or an "implied" eternity ...

... but nowhere near that in actual practice, to the point of being potentially ephemeral, to our detriment.-

(Naught of which subtracts from your valid concerns, where warranted ...)

Bluestein1y ago

PS. Further, the notion of "eternity" in digital storage is more rhetorical than literal. The idea of data being stored indefinitely suggests permanence that is, in reality, quite fragile. Technological obsolescence, data degradation, and the fragility of storage mediums make true perpetuity unlikely.-

While we speak of "eternal" digital footprints, the actual lifespan of this data is dictated by evolving technology, legal changes, and human intervention. This illusion of permanence can lead to a false sense of security or unnecessary paranoia. Recognizing the difference between theoretical possibilities and practical realities is crucial. The concept of "eternal" digital storage is far more ephemeral than it appears, and this impermanence could pose both risks and reassurances.-

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse