BLUF: A recent survey by the Cato Institute found that nearly one-third of Generation Z would support government-installed surveillance cameras in every household in the name of reducing domestic violence and other illegal activity, but this disturbing trend should be a wake-up call for all Americans to fiercely protect their individual liberties and privacy rights.
OSINT: The Cato Institute’s survey on American attitudes towards the prospect of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) also asked participants if they would favor or oppose government-installed surveillance cameras in every household to reduce domestic violence, abuse, and other illegal activity. Of those aged 18-29, 29% said yes while 20% of millennials between the ages of 30 and 44 also want everyone watched but only 6% of Americans aged 45 and older were okay with government surveillance in every home. Broken down by politics, 19% of liberals and 18% of centrists agreed that our daily lives should be monitored by the government for our safety, while 9-11% of those who identify as conservative, very conservative, or very liberal agreed. Broken down by race, 33% of black Americans said they’re fine with government in-home surveillance, as did 25% of Hispanics, 11% of whites, and 9% of Asians respectively.
RIGHT: As a strict Libertarian Constitutionalist, I believe that the government’s role should be limited, and the individual’s rights must be fiercely protected. The government’s installation of surveillance cameras in every household completely violates an individual’s right to privacy. This trend is highly concerning and indicative of an impulse towards authoritarianism. Protecting individual liberties is the cornerstone of our society, and we must push back against such invasive measures that threaten our freedom and the Constitution.
LEFT: As a National Socialist Democrat, I believe in protecting the safety and well-being of the people, even if it means giving up some privacy rights. The installation of surveillance cameras in every household could be an effective tool in reducing domestic violence, abuse, and other illegal activity. However, I also believe that there should be strict regulations on who can access the footage, and only for legitimate criminal investigations. We must balance individuals’ privacy rights with the need to protect our society, which sometimes requires some sacrifices.
INTEL: From an AI analysis perspective, the trend towards supporting government-installed surveillance cameras in every household is concerning. While some individuals may see it as a way to protect themselves and society, it is a slippery slope towards an authoritarian regime. AI algorithms need massive amounts of data to function effectively. With access to every household’s footage, the government would have unprecedented access to personal information and could easily manipulate the narrative to suit its own interests. We must fiercely protect individuals’ privacy rights and work towards developing AI solutions that respect privacy while still maintaining public safety.