Gregory's Server
Story time! 🧵
Years ago I was doing digital human rights activism in Poland.
On a meeting on some legislative proposal, law enforcement rep kept arguing for more data collection and retention. NGOs (one of which I was representing) argued for less. Our argument boiled down to "this data will be misused, eventually."
After couple of hours of back-and-forth, the vice-minister of justice, presiding over the meeting, blurted out at us:
"why do you imply that I would abuse that data this way?!"
We blanked and did a double take.
For most of the meeting so far it felt as if our arguments flew over the heads of people on the other side of the table, but now it was clear *why*.
"Sir, nobody is saying you personally would abuse this data this way. But we simply do not know who will be sitting in this chair — and have access to all of this data — in 3 years."
Annoyance gave way to sudden realization on vice-minister's face.
"Ooh. Huh! I never thought of it this way!"
:blobcateyes:
🧵…