Surveillance systems that go only one way (corporations and government know more about individuals, but individuals know less about them) lead inevitably to totalitarianism, but if surveillance is bidirectional—individuals simultaneously monitor government corruption and corporate tax compliance—then balance is preserved and freedom and accountability are maintained within democracy.

causalpending

Speaker

Yuval Noah Harari

Evidence Quote

If surveillance goes only one way, they know more about me, but I don't know more about them, this is the high road to totalitarianism.

Source

Yuval Noah Harari - Are Humans Superior to Other Life forms?Intelligence Squared
Created: 8/10/2026, 10:59:13 PM

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