I have been doing some sobering reading today in regards to the ways that the latest and greatest technology that is emerging is being put to use in nefarious and destructive ways. A leading writer and speaker who is bringing attention to the problems of having advanced technologies in the hands of criminals and terrorists is Marc Goodman, who advises law enforcement agencies, governments and businesses in the areas of security in the light of technological developments.
In a post written last month on the TED blog, Goodman looks in particular at the use of drones by criminals, and provides some examples of how law enforcement is a step behind them in countering some of their current tactics. He writes:
Criminals have also been using drones to circumvent our current security paradigms. Prisons use tall, often electric, fences to isolate criminals for public safety. In Brazil, organized crime gangs used drones to fly cell phones and other contraband right over the fences. Modern security design is failing to keep pace with the flying robots.
Of course it’s not just criminals that are taking on government institutions with drones. In September 2013, members of the Pirate Party in Germany rapidly flew a drone directly towards Chancellor Angela Merkel as she delivered a speech. The stunt was a prank and the drone landed harmlessly a few feet away from her, but what if it had been armed with an explosive device?
Technology itself is neutral, but it provides people with tools to extend their influence for good or ill. We talk a lot about the benefits that new inventions can bring, and we want to see them disseminated far and wide tor the good of all. But Goodman points out that technology can make criminal and terror organizations very powerful and it seems that these days that it is becoming much harder for militaries and law enforcement agencies to counter their new strategies and tactics. It’s almost like a new arms race is underway with each side trying to keep a step ahead of each other.
Goodman speaks a lot about such technologies as mobile communications, drones, biological weapons, robotics, etc. — but has not yet addressed the possible problems that technologies such as the E-Cat could add to the picture. As individuals desire a cheap, powerful distributed energy source to improve quality of life, and enhance individual freedom, we can also see how attractive it would be for organized crime and terrorist groups who want to maintain their own independent energy sources which could extend their power bases.
I almost hate to bring up this topic because the implications are quite disturbing, but I think it is almost certainly an area that will receive wide discussion in the halls of power and media when the time comes that people recognize that LENR is a viable and superior power source. I think that realization will spark major debates in which security issues will be raised. I expect the debate will echo in many ways the current one over cyber security in which revolves around the issues of personal freedom vs. crime fighting. Where it will all end up is impossible to say.
Below is a video of Marc Goodman speaking at a 2012 TED conference on “A vision of crimes in the future.”
