surveillance privacy oracle cloud-computing

Larry Ellison: "Citizens will be on their best behavior because we’re recording"

Quote of the day by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison: "Citizens will be on their best behavior, because we’re constantly recording and reporting everything that is going on" — a dire warning on the erosion of privacy

techradar.com

June 2, 2026

3 min read

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63/100

Summary

Larry Ellison warns that constant surveillance will lead to citizens behaving more cautiously due to the recording and reporting of their actions. He envisions an increasingly aggressive surveillance state in the 21st century.

Key Takeaways

Larry Ellison warns that advancements in AI and surveillance technologies will lead to an increasingly aggressive surveillance state, affecting citizen behavior.
AI technologies will process vast amounts of video footage from numerous cameras, automatically reporting detected issues in real time.
There is growing concern over the role of AI in workplace surveillance, with companies like Meta using it to monitor employee actions.
The trend over the last few decades has favored increased monitoring and surveillance across society, raising privacy concerns.

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Community Sentiment

Negative

Positives

AI-driven surveillance systems can lead to improved adherence to laws, as seen in Bangladesh, where traffic compliance has notably increased due to AI monitoring.
The scalability of AI in surveillance allows for more effective monitoring, potentially leading to a safer environment in certain contexts.

Concerns

AI surveillance removes the labor cost of monitoring, making it easier for the state to continuously interpret citizen behavior, which raises significant ethical concerns.
The panopticon effect of AI surveillance may lead to risk-averse behavior, where individuals conform to vague rules, stifling creativity and personal expression.
There are fears that AI surveillance could be misused to target political dissidents or frame innocent individuals, highlighting the dangers of unchecked power.