Leaked Google video: a disturbing concept to reshape humanity with data
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- Опубліковано 17 тра 2018
- Google Selfish Ledger is a 2016 video made inside the company that imagines a world where the company had so much data, it could map human behaviors, social issues, mental illness, and more. It's a frightening, dystopian idea that feels part of a sci-fi movie. Here's what it actually says about Google and Silicon Valley at large. Watch the full video: www.theverge.com/2018/5/17/17...
*Correction: Nick Foster is the current Head of Design at X (Formerly Google X).
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Would you be comfortable with your data getting passed on into the future? - Jake
The Verge Are Google allowing the video on UA-cam?
I already know it is being used to sell me stuff. I am used to and okay with it.
We are all data travellers, we affect everything we come into contact with and vice versa, choose wisely.
Absolutely not.
I think that there's a point where it's too much. The Facebook thing where emotions were manipulated was the point. I don't have a problem with my data being used to serve other people, as long as it's not for a selfish reason.
"We were so concerned about whether or not we could do it that we never stopped to ask if we should." - Dr. Ian Malcolm
This sounds like part of the social credit score being used and implemented in various countrys and soon everywhere
2yrs later and its forsure coming. Its freaking everywhere with all financial institutions & banks on the verge of collapse.
@@wrathmor1834 resist
Those countries used Goo Ghoul as a consultant and design service.
I do not consent!
the irony of following the link and being prompted a "we track your information with cookies" check on your website is just great
thats why google removed "don't be evil" slogan
Google have always been evil. They were up against Bill Gates and Microsoft and inferred that Gates was evil, which he was. Interestingly, many people now think Gates is a good guy for the work his foundation does but nothing could be further trust. Gates is still evil and so is his foundation.
Gates is evil and so Is Google 👿
This is "The Circle" movie in a nutshell.
I prefer it when google was just a search engine
C I A C I A C I A C I A.... repeat, x's infinity.
Yeah? Big deal.
Who's behind them?
Now you're thinking...
The orwell tingles are back again
The main thing to afraid of is that We don’t even know that our every thoughts are programmed by someone.
Google giving off some Mr. Robot Evil Corp vibes rn
Any person or company that needs a reminder to not be evil obviously has a tendency to be evil.
totally! creepy, insincere, inpersonal..
Google has become too big that it is turning into a monster, it needs to be stopped!
It dropped the "don't be evil" motto. I think they're new one is "do the right thing" right thing for who?
techdrawer they are AN EVIL CORP ,
"OK Google, help me protect the environment" *sentinent AI wipes out the human race*
The thing is, I don't believe we really want our problems solved. This won't really make us happy, living in a world controlled by big data companies. It feels human to have problems and to have freedom, privacy, and control. I don't want to loose that.
That's what you say now, the fact that you watched this video on a smartphone or laptop says otherwise, it makes you a hypocrite. Long story short, you won't even realize your life getting affected, just like all these big companies have. They'll integrate so effortlessly into society that you won't even blink as to what they're really doing or what they're really capable of. Unfortunately, in this timeline, we don't really have a say as to what we feel would we best for us, when in reality we don't even know what it's like to "feel human". That term changes as the years pass by. To "feel human", say 20 years ago is no where near what it is today. And this "feeling" will change in the next 20 years drastically, with comments like yours turning into comments like "It feels human to have freedom, privacy and control. I don't want to be controlled by AI/robots anymore.". There will arise a future when we need to assign rights and ethics to AI. The rise of the machines... but I suppose that's for another tale.
Lose*
Thanks for being human.
Bartosz Olszewski I had many social problems in my life that were half fixed just a few years ago. I still have problems with that. If I have had a way when I was a child to make my life better, I would have a better life now.
There is NO WAY where you can tell me that this should stay and that I need to "solve my problems alone"...
Life is better when technology explains part of it.
Maybe we should give up some privacy to evolve for the sake of the species, we can end crime and violence
It's kinda like the anime Psycho-Pass where government uses psychological data of a person to determine the threat of that person to society to protect society.
Your wisdom impresses.
I hope you are still alive.
Ironic they would never have the self awareness to determine how psychopathic monitoring an entire population is
I think a healthy debate & discussion is better than when things just become real at some point.
This thumbnail is bad.
Jorge Bush what's wrong with it?
Daniel Davila thumbnails are supposed to draw viewers and this one won’t. The views on this are going to be sub-par.
ok
Jorge Bush well the video has been up for one day and already has double the views from a month old one.
Yeah needs more red arrows and circles
For real though, a lot of the media I’m seeing on UA-cam is reminding me of Metal Gear Solid 2.
And as eye opening as that seems, it begs the question of whether it’s just one more layer of control they have.
Wake up
The Google video was never meant to be for "internal use only". It was always meant to be "leaked".
Why
This is the most thought provoking and interesting piece the verge has come up with to date. Fantastic stuff. Keep up the good work people!!!!
Really well done. Biometrics and social engineering is interesting to contemplate when thinking of where this is headed. This was really a great video.
One thing people usually forget is that algorithms or even ai is made by people, and depending on the biases or motivations of those people determines how the software responds. It's important to keep the designers in mind, especially when dealing with sensitive discussions like data usage and user privacy
Powerful stuff from the verge
Oluwaseyi Jimoh I
Oluwaseyi Jimoh but the content is based by the author which is not a member of the verge
Arya Jonathan it was created by someone from Google. A writer at the verge Vlad Savov obtained the video and broke the story
How hard is it to understand that Google is a for-profit company and if you are not paying for its products then you are the product?
Amit Singh it’s very easy to understand, I’m just trying to figure out the relevance of you stating the obvious
How about both, Pay its products and The product.
casper5314 facebook will use your information against you. Google has proven to give you more control over your data it collects. And hasn't used it against you ,just used to target ads.And if you don't want it to collect your data there are options for that, look it up. Everything on Facebook can be bought your messages your profile data everything
I believe there are thousands of for-profit companies... but your obvious point is pointless.
Google primarily relies on ad revenue, for which it might collect background information on you. The chances of them overstepping feel small to me, but there's really nothing we can do if they decide to do so one day.
This is practically the story line of a web comic called romantically apocalyptic. You should check it out!
"Thought experiment" sounds like 1984... wtf
My biggest fear is being forgotten after my time here. Now, I wonder how I'll be remembered and if it's still a good thing
Do you remember all of your ancestors? And it there's a book with stories of all humans ever lived, would people be reading that? Everybody lives in the present, like you. And that's kind of a good thing.
I'm a Muslim, so my goal is already not to be remembered by future generations, but do enough good in this life to be appreciated when I wake up next time.
Why would you care what happens after you die? You won’t be there to see it anyway.
SDG Danny you will be forgotten. Its inevitable. The best thing to do is not to worry about if you will be remembered , but to enjoy the time you have on earth . Coming from a christian , there is more to life than just enjoying it. But for the majority of athiests , enjoying life is all you have. So make the best of it.
ashwinbhat95, When you have a dream and dont wake up during it you dont remember it, most your dreams you cannot remember and it feels like it never happened, the same is true with life, if no one remembers you or what you did it is as if you never existed.
You'll be remembered as that guy who had comments everywhere.
Checking in, 2019. This is absolute reality. It actually was long time ago.
How did Vlad obtain the video? Btw one of the coolest/creepiest scoops ever, extremely thought provoking. Great piece
i love how they called it "the selfish Ledger" much like the book "the selfish gene"
One of the most thought-provoking things I’ve seen in the while. What with Duplex and now this, Google seems like it really does want to have a part in a Black Mirror episode! Great video Verge!
Blackrock is advocating this
I'm loving these documentaries from the Verge! Very informative and short.
the music in that ledger video was maddening me!! Was it added on purpose to make it eerie!!?
Interesting video! It brings up a ton of questions.
If the data were controlled, processed and distributed on a *decentralized* ledger in which an immutable consensus mechanism could be implemented that enforced a "for the greater good of the many" pragmatic philosophical doctrine, then I could see the validity of entertaining such a Gedankenerfahrung. However, I would neither provide consent, nor forego objection, to allowing such a network to be controlled by a centralized entity; in fact, I would submit that we should violently oppose the very notion of its creation.
The amount of apple products in a google video is hilarious
@theverge, I would assume the reason for not giving an opinion on the ethics of the premise would be because that would affect the watchers naturally organic connotation of what they were being presented with. It would also prevent any who had an opposing take from expressing themselves without knowing they were the 'other'.
What if we could make an algorithm to break the sequencing ? Like an application on top of the 'ledger' to send and create erratic flow of data. Or rather what if an organization create the data sequence in such a way to befit them alone while destroying the rest ? These are greater treats than privacy
This is a design exercise. It's speculative design. This is just to start a conversation.
Nope, this video is disturbing because it's the product of a disturbing company. Even if it's all just hypothetical, everything in this video seems not far off from what Google already does or wants to do.
I don't think you understand the idea behind speculative design. Speculative design is critical design, that questions the cultural, social and ethical implications of emerging technologies. A form of design that can help us to define the most desirable futures, and avoid the least desirable. This idea was formulated by Anothony Dunne and Fiona Raby in the 90s and companies, researchers and designers have adopted this method to prevent something as disturbing as you see in his video from happening. The fact that this video seems not far off from what Google already does makes it an even more successful speculative project.
Exactly! I hope more people realise the meaning of it being speculative design. I actually just wrote my thesis on my own speculative design project about data and surveillance.
Gautham SK thanks for explaining. I am an art student(3D anitmation , game design) and havent really looked into speculative design yet . Even if we did run through it. One day i might incorporate that idea into a game. But for now its horror games ;)
Deniell De Vries That's a great idea. You should definitely look into speculative design projects. I think Black Mirror is a great source for inspiration. Their writers have done well.
Great commentary Jake!
The link takes to the verge page and I can't find the video
This isn’t anything new, social engineering is an old concept this just adds a modern twist. The same argument applies, who is to decide what’s better from society and you, aside from the individual. Just another way for Silicon Valley and Hollywood to push their degrading agenda.
There was an anime that had a similar idea: if we could predetermine human behaviour through user data and use those (pre)solutions prior to actual world events, would the world be a better place? Somebody down took the example of a murderer. Well let's assume the authorities through massive user data collection and solutions reached at through them are able to determine if a person has those murderous intentions and decide to stop the crime at the brink of the event actually happening. What would happen? The world would be accepting of these (pre)solutions reached at through data stacks and urge the authorities to use it for security.
But what happens when they take it a level when the authorities leave their beliefs and notions to the judgement provided by the system that handles all this data? They eliminate the element of choice. They eliminate any factor of probability. And I don't think that is a way to follow. I don't think any of it would make sense. What if the affore-mentioned murderer decides to NOT kill anyone? Wasn't that possible too by the rule of 'choice'?
These issues were depicted in that anime. I forgot the title. Would someone be kind to comment the name in case anyone would be interested?
Project Dull Orange psycho-pass. Awesome show
Project Dull Orange that anime is called Minority Report starring the anime character Tom Cruise
Of course anime has explored all this ages ago! This is actually why love anime, it's the stuff like psycho pass, ghost in the shell, zegapain, et al that keeps me hooked on anime. Every season there is something mind blowing. Last season the time stopping anime was truly mind bending.
"If you can be told what you can see or read
Then it follows that you can be told what to say or think"
Everything is so geared for consumerism. Stop buying stuff you don't actually need.
Data = knowledge = power. Power can be used for good or evil. It’s our responsibility to ensure the former. Fearing data and how it can be used is like fearing knowledge. Do we really want to burn the books?
DATA is the next OIL!
Vaibhav Bhootra it already is
Vaibhav Bhootra you’re late
Oil is not as important as data.
What's the name of the Black mirror episode he mentions in the video?
(1) Goggle search cannot even search what I want today. For example; I wanted to find an article about a guy climbing into a lion pit to get his sun glasses. Search for “sunglasses zoo lion death”. While I did not check all 429,000 results, the first batch I checked did not even contain the word ‘sunglasses’. Clearly Google has no idea what I want. How could we trust them to offer suggestions?
(2) Consider the old days with AM top 40 radio. If all you heard was top 40 songs, how would any new song ever shoe up in the list? New songs had to buy their way into the top 40. Top 40 represented a marketing effort, not user taste.
While the Google video says this is the future. Google is doing this today with its search and other supporting software. I am thinking of two diverse concepts here. First, Google still cannot figure out simple things I want. Second, what they show will limit our lives to Google’s top 40. Basically they restrict us and they are wrong about their opinions of what we want.
There’s an Etherial book of life where everything in the All is every step man took. It filters down into the human soul group of humanities all across the cosmos ..at just the right time Sometimes it’s a little late or ahead that in it self is subjective. Etherial woman using tantric sex magic and data they had access to to launch our space programs going back to the 30s. In fact late on the scene was the TV show I dream of Jennie In 65 That was an off beat seemingly off the wall series this is the universe telling you what the reality is of your technology is “most hidden” is coming from what’s hidden .. an Etherial woman from Venus activating your Kundalini there is nothing like it to jump start your work day especially in a new frontier like the space program. The screen writers of Star Trek were waking up with their scripts down loaded It’s reminisce of our secret space program and Star Wars the ancient War that carries on to this day that is as old as The cosmic human the old empire against the Orion Dz and don’t leave out John Lennon He got his down loads as he slept You got his music When it was needed in its time just as those tunes have been heard by humans on every planet in the universe after man was ready. Nicola Tesla tried to give us his down loads from the Etherial plane but man distorted the message The atomic energy downloads was turned into a weapon of war distorted again So What is AI Googles intention ? To take control of the Etherial distribution ? To do what ? It can be used to control man and feed those who are self servicing or it can be used to assure that millions of years of Earths future information is made available in real time to manifest in the now to create your optimal time line for Spirital growth or ? Is it a way to sever your connection to the Etherial plane by those who are of conquest and aim to conquer ? Will Man no longer wake up with lyrics I.e “imagine all the people by Lennon “ as an effort to bring peace because your relying on your google “head band update at 3 am during your Rem time and instead you get “ let the bodies hit the floor !” ? Who’s behind the AI curtain.
Love your content
Ridiculously good video, probably the best video from Verge,
You know,apart from the mobile reviews i.e
Do any adults remember that time when we didn’t have commercials...i do. It was when youtube (google) wasn’t relied on...data.
At least Google is having deep internal thoughts about this stuff whereas Facebook just does it. To me an individually respectfull but still data driven society would be better than the tribalism we have now. It doesn't have to be inhuman or dystopian.
If you can't beat them, be them.
Samit Satapathy true.
So basically no one is safe on the internet. Everybody's data is an income opportunity to Tech Giants. This is your digital life. 😂
There is no full video at the link 🙄😑
I didn't believe in Jesus when this video came out , now i do and i also know exactly what is going on.
Okay, the video is weird, but it’s not “disturbing”. It presents logical arguments and it’s a different way of thinking than what we are used to (regarding to personal data); but by no means it’s as bad as you try to point out. You reference to things that really don’t matter, trying to make them arguments against the video (like you saying that insects, human faces and the drawings he makes are disturbing and meant to be weird. They are not). I don’t agree with Google’s video, but you need to stop distorting the information in order to make your point come across.
Otherwise, I liked the video and I agree with your point of view. A person’s data is not the individual, it’s just a residual portion of what they like, think or are.
this is Verge creating hype for a Verge article. and who knows, maybe a Verge video...?
it's pure hype.
I disagree, they are disturbing, but the video kinda fails to make the connection explicit. These kinds of things are disturbing because of the massive global scale they happen at. The experiment about the cheery vs. sad newsfeed for instance: inconsequential at the scale of you-and-a-friend, but a pretty big deal at the scale of entire tracts of userbases. Scale matters! Look up Geoffrey West.
So you would like some random people sitting in golden chairs in silicon valley to control you subliminally from the background? Clearly this video didn't actually explain the utter seriousness and disturbing nature of this 'though experiment'.
Imagine letting users turn this upon themselves for data-driven, super-powered self-reflection.
The custom weight thing is eliminating the wasteful weights that were manufacture, but not bought and used
Yawn
Seen as this was a internal video and it's clear it was just a concept I don't see the big deal
pls someone knows the track/song in the beginning? pls i need this track!
EXCELLENT reporting. Probably the most important story the Verge has reported on this year. KEEP DIGGING!
I didn't find the video disturbing.
Ya, the original video suggests that one day we might understand our data better like we understand our DNA better.
Aging Reversed only being shown what google approves off? What happens if you don’t believe what google believe? So many more google ethics questions
The vidio itself is kind of calm
the implications are scary
like being told that your head will be cut off by a soothing voice
doesn't really make it beter
No? So further down the line google knows, based on collected data, that you will suffer a very very expensive illnes at some point. Not good news for you and certainly not your health insurance provider privat/state. A quick calculation is made on what you actually tribute to society or taxes. And then at some point you find yourself happily driving your Tesla, on autopilot of course, and suddenly it makes a hard left turn into the abyss......and burns out to a crisp as all Teslas seem to do. No, not disturbing at all....
The Right Stuff - You just went full-on tinfoil hat. From collecting user data straight to Tesla assassinations because someone is going to be ill in the future lmao. For people who live in reality, if the insurance provider did get that data then they would up the price of his health insurance. Because you know, we don't live in some made up Right Stuff World.
I don't care how or who uses my data. If, by using that data, my life could become better even a little bit, I'd be happy.
Thank you , well done report. Peace
Quill of Cornelius Fudge?
LOVE THIS REF! 😂
Edit: That Black Mirror nod at the end with the logo. 👌
I like Google, they always think outside the box.
"Speculative design" Yeah sure Google keep telling your self that...
Your content is above and beyond any other tech channel on UA-cam
Awesome video
Dark yet not impossible
Tech companies are fastly approaching this.
I wonder what does the future hold for us
Your face is uncomfortably close.
Your "universal ethics regulator" is just as dystopian as the Selfish Ledger you hope to prevent. I'd rather have Google's Mother Of All Ad Trackers selling me scales than the literal Thought Police "regulating" my "ethics".
You completely missed the point then... That's not what he means by an ethics regulator. Have you seriously not heard of ethics regulators in finance and in medicine?? You sure benefit from them
The regulatory bodies of the industries you mention have what they regulate in their names. For example, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Not sure why Jake doesn't just say "AI Ethics Regulator" if that's what he means. It's the "universal" bit that's problematic for me. Specificity matters, no?
274pacific From universal, I got the impression that he meant an international body for tech practices, in areas such as AI. In a way, it would have to be more universal than other job-specific regulations, since the tech can be applied in almost any field (which is scary, since the industry is dominated by relatively few big players).
Good point. Now that I think about it, because AI will likely be in every industry "universal" is actually the correct adjective. Huzzah! Disagreement resolved.
274pacific ok
In 100 years a supercomputer will be made to predict the future
Why do the companies assume that if I like something now, I will always like that thing? That's one of my problems with super honed targeted things. Human experience is not as rigid as we make it out to be sometimes. I want to be able to explore new and different things, I don't care what my pervious preference or behaviour pattern has been.
This is pretty disturbing. I don't think the fact that it was "meant to be disturbing" makes this okay... Google has done a great job of making products that are super smart and super useful but if that's even a hint of the future, I want out.
Dan Barillaro you can easily opt out... just don’t buy anything google-related and don’t use google. I personally see nothing here as disturbing and just what will inevitably happen.
dan & alpha yeah that's basically what I'm saying. A little easier said than done though, which is part of the problem
If you had not watched this video, and be in that future, you'll be saying the same thing, that Google has done a great job of making products that are super smart and useful.
Fact is, the same thing is happening right now. And their today's data-central behavior will lead to that future.
Dan Barillaro Not sure if Google will actually completely take that path. They probably will to some less drastic degree, but really this video was meant to be shown to Google employees, followed by the person who showed it to them then saying something along the lines of "Okay, discuss".
iLikeTheUDK or maybe they would: www.theverge.com/2018/5/19/17246152/google-selfish-ledger-patent-applications
So...
Should I buy Apple now???
Neither. Just cash out. Retire. Live a hermit life. Be happy.
No, Apple doesn't respect their customers. Like they artificially slow down your phone without your consent to force you buy a new one. Or with the hardware problems they know from years but still refuse to fix.
Yep
Camui Hideaki no, its not the same...
I will text, but through iMessage, will browse internet, but through Safari and not Chrome(the engine would still probably be Google tho) and most importantly, my cloud services be iCloud and not Google Drive or something else which I thing is the greatest source of information for them...
kent leonhart get an iPhone. They don’t sell or collect your info
Well, I liked the video. Very interesting from a philosophical and theoretical point of view. IMO, it’s good to see thought experiments like this, non-traditional concepts etc.
Contemplation is indeed a good thing.
You referenced the DARPA project where Facebook studied the effects of manipulating people's feeds to make them happier or sadder. But you referenced it as something that they did once, several years ago. But, what I think you maybe failed to consider is that during that study, which they claimed to be successful with, they developed a capability. Who's to say they aren't selling that capability as a service to certain of their customers right now?
Short version: "Google is scary! Let's create more regulatory agencies."
Answer: nope. Google can't force me to do anything. The regulators can. And on top of that the regulators would end up ensuring google's/facebook's monopoly over the internet as they would be the only ones big enough to comply with said regulations.
The way it is right now, all the power google has is the power you choose to give them.
Don't like it? Use alternatives. (enjoy while they still exist... before the regulators come)
Walter Girao this a million times! This is the comment I came to this section to make, only to see you said it already.
The way people freak out over this sort of thing and cry for regulation just makes me sick. People are in control of the data they generate. It's ok to have a discussion, but if there is a problem, consumers can fix it without forcing the government and regulation to be their parents and keeper.
Ok pal, feel free to pretend you can be a regular working citizen in today's society without Google or any other company taking your data. I'm sure your can make business without internet, a search engine, a mail client or a smartphone.
The problem that libertarians have is that you live in a fantasy where you have choice for everything. You're scared of the government and pretend that the free market will solve everything. The reality is that Google is already working with the government to spy on their citizens in a massive scale, that was brought up during the Prism scandal years ago.
Regulations are what controls power abuse. Well implemented, they'll ban the government and silicon valley from abusing their power. The problem is not government. The problem is unchecked powers, which come from the private and public sector
"use alternatives" what alternatives are there that can 100% guarantee you they don't collect your data and Google won't collect your data? Especially on smartphones where there only are 2 choices and both collect your data.
The illusion of freedom is strong with this one
This is such a naive comment. Google is already a monopoly. It has already gained the power it needs to generate a profile of you. Even without your consent.
I dont see why anyone would feel uncomfortable with this. I think it is very calming, the guys voice is calming, and the music is really nice. I dont see either why the message is terrifying, we all knew this would happen, and why not? Genetic modification is beautifull, so is AI.
Bram Sturk I think it's calmness is what's unsettling
Finally someone who agrees.
Bram Sturk There’s an Another Reason behind it. Read what I posted above. If I’ve discovered it in my line of work they have already been working on it decades.
AboxofMonsters ?
It's a thought experiment. The verge guy complains that they don't discuss whether they should or whatever, but that doesn't mean the conversation isn't happening. The whole point of the video IS TO SPARK that conversation
Wow, keyword search suggestions disable for "Selfish Ledger"
The video isnt available anymore on verge?
Full video is here: www.theverge.com/2018/5/17/17344250/google-x-selfish-ledger-video-data-privacy
Who cares at this point.
Renz everyone really ...
That's the exact kind of thinking that's going to get us in trouble
Joe Nicholls what can they control about me. My mind is mine alone... I don't care if they know my habit on what I like.
they can control what you do by knowing your habits.
Honestly, society has pretty much said that they don't care about their data so long as it serves us.
High schools make projects like the one here. I honestly thought The Verge would be slightly above this sort of thought.
Why don't you have a video on the OnePlus 6? Really weird and unusal for The Verge.
I haven’t been freaking out about anything. If you have something to hide, don’t do it on the Internet.
"Welcome to skynet, prapare to be dissected for data"
Hasn’t Google implemented AI driven lifestyle suggestions into the latest version of Google Assistent?
this is the material and deeper-thinking I'd like TheVerge would continue. All the tinkering/one more new phone reviews is soo not-worthy of discussion in the emergence of really big possibilities and issues we start to encounter, as a human race and biological species
I recently discussed buying a re-bounder. Not via text, in person. I had not searched for one online at all. Ads for re-bounders started popping up when I went online. Only conclusion is the microphone on my phone recorded and sold that data. Horrifying.
would be really interested in a hot take from Jaron Lanier about this video.
As far as the idea of data not belonging to us once we're gone, look at archaeology.
The presenter starting mumbling while contemplating about the possibility of contesting against the whole idea...almost like he could be jailed if overheard... that's the most eerie part for me.
George Orwell would not have expected that people would spend their own money to get monitored.
It could be helpful for lets say someone who suffers from depression, but at the cost of everyone else who dont suffer from it, because it would be directing them not to..
Again, it could be good, but like you said.. there is no one to check if it starts getting used for something bad..
This kinda reminds me of EMAC from, "The Last Question."
Encryption should be the next big step to take further action against data, not just text but also through other media which the data can be diminished when it reaches to the future society etc.....
It would be difficult to be an individual ant in a Google anthill.