Digital Threat Modeling Under Authoritarianism
5 hours ago
- #Authoritarianism
- #Digital Security
- #Surveillance
- Threat modeling is essential for digital security, helping individuals assess risks and decide on appropriate security measures.
- The focus of threat modeling is shifting from corporate surveillance to government surveillance, especially under authoritarian regimes.
- The U.S. government holds vast amounts of sensitive personal data, which is increasingly being used for targeted surveillance and prosecution.
- Corporate data from companies like Google and Meta is also being shared with governments, augmenting surveillance capabilities.
- Targeted surveillance can be used against individuals, but mass surveillance poses broader risks by flagging individuals for scrutiny or harassment.
- Encryption protects against mass surveillance but is ineffective against sophisticated targeted attacks or when devices are confiscated.
- Decentralization of authoritarian systems can lead to widespread repression, making everyone a potential target.
- Surveillance systems often make mistakes, and in authoritarian regimes, these errors are used to instill fear broadly.
- Effective opposition or protest requires being online, despite the risks, highlighting the trade-offs in threat modeling.
- Preparation for increased targeted surveillance is crucial as surveillance technologies become more accessible and affordable.