In 1999, David Brin wrote a book entitled The Transparent Society. His main thesis is that the increased surveillance by governments on their citizens is not going to go away. Stated differently, the fight for our privacy by preventing surveillance is futile. Rather, he suggests that we should enforce far stronger controls upon those observing us. More specifically, we should force our observers to be transparent by observing them back. This will then prevent them from misusing their power. It is a very interesting read and is highly controversial. You are unlikely to agree with everything he says, but he definitely has some interesting points to make.

So, why am I writing about this today? First, I happened to hear him speak at the IBM T.J. Watson research center this week while I was visiting there. More importantly, the transparent society may be beginning. The inclusion of cameras into cellphones means that ordinary citizens have cameras with them all the time. They are now using these to document misbehavior by officials. The observed are now beginning to observe back! For two recent examples of this phenomena, see the videotaping of a police officer pushing over a cyclist, and a general discussion here.