How Neglected Rising Crime Levels Are Fueling the Push Towards a Cashless Surveillance State

On both sides of the Atlantic, the authorities and private businesses alike are using the excuse of rising crime to push even harder toward the big-picture goal: even more mass surveillance.

An obvious component of this, though not as visible as a CCTV camera, is the move toward what's known as a cashless society. The "problem" with cash is that it's very difficult to track and use to gather large amounts of data regarding the financial transactions of an individual, their movements, and habits.

But the argument of fighting crime goes along the same lines as the "think of the children" platitude, in that it implies any opponents are in fact in favor of crime, or, not thinking about the children.

In the US, huge fast-food chains play an important role in everyday life and serve a massive number of people; and one such chain, Taco Bell, thus far in one city, Oakland (perhaps as a pilot?) is now moving most of its customers away from indoor spaces and driving them into drive-thrus.

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