A Century of Convergence: Technology, Ideology, and U.S. National Security

摘要

'Convergence' is a term typically used to denote the conflation of several technologies. In a larger sense, convergence can signify the blending of technology, law, policy, doctrine, and capability in ways that boost knowledge and power for those who compel or defend states. The world has become globalized in the sense that virtually anyone, anywhere, can be targeted. These awesome powers of surveillance and force are still growing, but their oversight lags far behind. Ironically, efforts to limit surveillance have helped to spur the overall growth of surveillance capabilities, in part to answer the growing demand for intelligence for precision targeting. Understanding the origins and current breadth of that gap is key to resolving it.