Well, this may be an interesting talking point, but really is a matter of attitude. Remember when Rob Ford admitted to smoking crack? I don't live in Toronto, but I applaud his honesty. The same goes for every other scenario on earth. If I cheat my wife, it's brought up, and I admit to it, I'll gain far more respect than if I deny, deny, deny.

They can (and have) also be convicted with falsified evidence. What's the difference (other than the fact that continuous monitoring of everyone is far more expensive)?

Invasion of privacy sucks, I agree. But come on, how can any agency get information without an internet connection? I suppose you'll say "physical access", to which the answer is "linux+encryption", or "measuring emp" which is even more invasive. If you're breaking laws and don't notice the large surveillance van parked in front of your house for three days, you're an idiot.

Even if you have something to hide, just don't mention it on the internet. Drug dealers don't usually mention drugs on their cell phone. If you're a criminal and don't adopt this strategy, you're just bad at your "job".

I take it you've never heard of Guantanamo.

Which is by far the majority (even the ones breaking the law by drug dealing, etc.). I'm Canadian, which first of means I don't think my country is "much" better, but secondly I think that Americans get a pretty bad rap worldwide based on the idiots governing the place. I've met hundreds of Americans, and they have all been as normal, friendly, and polite as any Canadian I've met, despite our stereotype here.

So, wait. Your premise then is that monitoring stopped when the Snowden documents came out? Who ever said that?

OK, OK. I'm not sure "this fad" will ever go away. Maybe we'll get better screens less prone to fingerprints, but even then, why is your screen getting so dirty anyway? If you're eating cheezies (Canadian thing) while you're using your tablet, you're doing it wrong. I've been using Android devices for about 3 years now, and with every device, the screen's brightness made up for any fingerprint issues. And on the tactile response front, it's called haptic feedback. Your device shakes a little when you press a button. There's no way that glasses and gloves will take over from current touchscreens, unless the whole world decides they want to look like complete dorks all the time. Granted, I welcome looking like a dork, but my wife will probably object the next time we go to a party.

Having accounts is not a security issue - is about what you post. In the same way a drug dealer will talk in code on a cell phone, just don't post things that you don't want the world to see. It's not as if Facebook monitors your every move.

Sure. But you certainly don't help from strangers who want your business to survive. Good luck with that philosophy.

Your sense of altruism is admirable. Good idea for an individual, but horrible for business. The only way to succeed in business is to minimize expense and maximize profit. To work for the greater good is more suited for nonprofits (even if I personally agree with the idea).

Bull. I live near Saskatoon Saskatchewan, a small city by north american standards. When my wife and I bought our home, we were forced to choose between the ghetto (where crime is DOUBLE anywhere else in town) or to move out of the city. With our first child on the way it was a no-brainer. To move to a downtown area that isn't crime-ridden would cost TWICE what we're currently paying. It is undoubtedly worse in larger centers.

App updates, including updates to Google Play Services, always ask for explicit permission if the app's device permissions change (if an app needs to use GPS and hadn't previously, for instance). When apps haven't changed their requirements, you can still turn off automatic updates in order to prevent any app (once again including Play Services) from updating without your explicit permission. If you don't add a google account to your device, you won't even be alerted about possible updates, let alone see them applied without permission (once again, this includes Google's Play Services). And in the very extreme case of an entire system update, you are always asked for explicit permission before upgrading. In other words, even when your device comes with Google Play Services by default (as most do), you are NEVER forced to apply system or app updates without authorization.

Shouldn't you be boycotting? I understand the anti-beta posts from last week, and the boycott, and altslashdot.org. I will certainly even visit it and sign up, but I at least hoped that this week I could enjoy Slashdot without the first post being another anti-beta rant. Well written, but off topic, and at this point ridiculous, as you all threatened to leave us as alone for a week. At this rate, you'll have a flourishing community on you new site, and STILL be trolling here long after it's no longer beta. Last week it wasn't irritating, it was even a bit inspiring. Now it's just stupid.

And you are an asshole. Pot -> kettle.