On ubiquitous surveillance and the marketplace of ideas

[dsrtao]

On a mailing list I inhabit, discussion turned to the wondrous new scanner-pens that captured handwriting and notes while writing on paper. Some of them may have sound recorders too.

Actual question by a list member, and my reply follows:

How about people (and most academic lecturers fit into this category) that don't want to be recorded?

I'm pretty sure that the point of an academic lecture is to learn things, and that students have been recording notes with pen and paper and tape recorder and digital sound recorder since each of these technologies became feasible.

But, let's say that you don't want to be recorded.

Step one. Announce that you don't want to be recorded. Place notices at the doors, too, so you don't have to repeat the announcement for latecomers.

Step two. If that didn't work, retaliate. Speak an incorrect version of the lecture while writing the truth on the board. Erase after every sentence. If you see someone with one of those pesky cellphone cameras...

Step three. Active denial. Scan a laser around the room. When you get a lens-reflection, stop the laser and increase power until you burn the CCD. Turn on white noise generators in the back of the room. But some of those evil people are no doubt equipped with eidetic memory so...

Step four. Speak in cipher. Only those equipped with the proper key will be able to decipher your words.

Step five. Sue your customers.

The RIAA is now looking for step 6.

Comments

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

You forgot 3.5, or maybe it's 5.5; hire people to stand in the room with scanners, looking for pens, and arresting people who carry them. Or maybe not. But certainly spread rumors that you are doing this.

Also, for step 4, you should include the key at the start of your lecture. For 'legitimate' users.

I think 6 is "sue or threaten other people for lecturing, because they are devaluing the act of lecturing, even if what they're saying has nothing to do with your own". Claim that the very act of recording anything, anywhere is a crime.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

In the Liamverse.

1. Politely ask that people not record the lecture.

I *like* my world.

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. And then they attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you. - Nicholas Klein

[dsrtao]

It's pretty close to the real world, too. Most people are not jerks most of the time.

[dsrtao]

Shortly after the attack phase is "then their kids think you're no big deal".

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Step 4.5: pay Congress to make it illegal to break your cipher.

Step 6: pay Congress to tax blank paper and give you the money.

Step 7: pay Congress to give you a monopoly on paper production, ban the sale of blank paper to end users, and ban the resale of paper products.

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Actually, now that I think of it, lecturers in MA already have this kind of protection: it's illegal to record somebody without their consent. (Which becomes extra problematic when students ask questions.)