When the physicists need burner phones, that's when you know America's changed

One of the important things to watch for is the linkup of the papers please people with the internet scanners. Right now they seem to be limited to seizing your personal effects, but that is a matter of coordination between departments of the government. If there are laws against it, they are adjacent to other laws which were ignored even in previous years. Once that occurs the use of professional use devices will not make the crossing safe.

Sounds like a social credit score derived from your entire online identity.

I hope that picture of reality stays in Black Mirror.

It would represent a huge decline in personal liberty in the West so I’m betting it will be so unpopular as to be impossible, especially as older voters are replaced by digital natives who are aware of the problem.

> I’m betting it will be so unpopular as to be impossible

People have said the same thing about gutting Social Security, but it seems like that's on the chopping block right now unfortunately.

Social Security is very popular but hasn’t been baked into the Western soul for the past 1-2k years like the idea of personal agency & liberty has.

In addition, SS requires a budget so is more open to controversy. Respecting individuals is free; violating their rights requires a budget as well.