‘Orwell Was Right’ & ‘Ukraine Using Thiel-Backed Clearview AI Facial Recognition During Russia Invasion’
Front Cover of the First (1949) Edition of ‘1984’
Matt Taibbi posted the following:
Orwell Was Right
This weekend I re-read 1984, a book I tend to reach for when I get Defcon-1 depressed about the state of the world. Deep in the novel, Winston ponders the intricacies of doublethink:
To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which canceled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them… To forget whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory again at the moment when it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again… that was the ultimate subtlety.
In the last weeks, Russia took an already exacting speech environment to new extremes. A law was passed that would impose 15-year prison sentences for anyone spreading “fake news” about the Ukraine invasion; access was cut to Facebook and Twitter; …
On the flip side, a slew of actions have been taken to crack down on “fake news” and “misinformation” in the West. The big one was the European Union banning RT and Sputnik:
Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube also cut access to all Russian state media, because the EU sanctions also required that internet platforms delist any RT or Sputnik content, even from individuals. The statute reads, “As regards the posts made by individuals that reproduce the content of RT and Sputnik, those posts shall not be published, and if published, shall be deleted.”
Other governments across the West, from Australia to Canada, have taken similar actions. In the U.S., Google and YouTube disallowed Russian state media ads (following a request by Senator Mark Warner) and demonetized “a number of Russian channels,” including RT but also many non-Russian individuals, before proceeding to demonetize all individual Russian content creators, even the individuals opposing the invasion. Even DuckDuckGo, the speechier, more pro-privacy alternative to Google, announced it was de-ranking “sites associated with Russian disinformation.” A growing list of Westerners have seen accounts frozen for supposed parroting of Russian talking points or “abusive” commentary.
YouTube banned Oliver Stone’s documentary Ukraine on Fire, while Netflix is going so far as to shelve a production of Anna Karenina. In what might have been the craziest move of all, Meta reportedly followed up a decision to un-ban the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion with a mind-blowing decision to alter its hate speech policies to “allow Facebook and Instagram users in some countries to call for violence against Russians and Russian soldiers in the context of the Ukraine invasion,” according to internal emails seen by Reuters. …
One would hope there would be at least a few Americans left who’d hear about Russia barring the BBC and Voice of America and at least recognize the sameness of the issue involved with banning RT and Sputnik. …
We don’t, however, because we long ago reached the doublethink phase predicted by Orwell, where most of the population is conscious of double standards but ignores them effortlessly. 03/13/22 https://taibbi.substack.com/p/orwell-was-right?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoyODUxMjc5OSwiXyI6InR1U1pyIiwiaWF0IjoxNjQ3MTkzMzU1LCJleHAiOjE2NDcxOTY5NTUsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0xMDQyIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.oclSppJuChm9f8drCGuW1jxVANBtEisTGUMjMVLy3Wc&s=r
Yes, there are more and more are seeing the formation of the dystopian world of George Orwell’s book.
As far as receiving truthful reports during times of military conflict, notice the following:
In 1918 US Senator Hiram Warren Johnson is purported to have said: The first casualty when war comes is truth. However, this was not recorded. In 1928 Arthur Ponsonby’s wrote: The ‘When war is declared, truth is the first casualty’. (Falsehood in Wartime) Samuel Johnson seems to have had the first word: ‘Among the calamities of war may be jointly numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates and credulity encourages.’ (from The Idler, 1758) https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-21510,00.html accessed 03/06/22
There has been a lot of disinformation in the news lately. Truth, has often, taken second place to various narratives.
There has also been a lot of hypocrisy–and Jesus condemned hypocrisy (e.g.Matthew 23:13-29).
The Bible also warns:
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)
Sadly, the Bible shows that deception and improper censorship will worsen in the future (cf. Revelation 13:14-18; Amos 8:11-12).
Notice the following posted by NDTV last year:
Microsoft President Brad Smith Says George Orwell’s ‘1984’ Could Become a Reality by 2024
May 29, 2021
Microsoft President Brad Smith says that the dystopian world depicted by George Orwell in his novel “1984” — where totalitarian surveillance was a part of life — could soon become a reality, What’s more, it may be as early as 2024, if artificial intelligence (AI) is not regulated better, he suggests. Published in 1949, in the novel, Orwell had explored themes such as government surveillance, totalitarianism and how a dictator can manipulate and control lives by knowing what people are doing and saying at all times. Smith is worried that if we adopt the kind of AI once only imagined in such dystopian novels, the complete control of a nation under a totalitarian regime is absolutely possible.
Orwell’s “1984,” where citizens lived under the constant threat of surveillance and censorship, not only infiltrated the consciousness of thousands of people, but also gave rise to phrases and concepts — Big Brother, Thought Police, Room 101 — that are recognised and relevant even today as signs of a nightmarish future.
Smith, while speaking to BBC during a programme that explores China’s increasing use of AI to monitor its citizens said, “I’m constantly reminded of George Orwell’s lessons in his book ‘1984.’ You know the fundamental story was about a government who could see everything that everyone did and hear everything that everyone said all the time. Well, that didn’t come to pass in 1984, but if we’re not careful that could come to pass in 2024.”
He also called on world leaders to enact stricter laws to govern the use of AI, adding that if it wasn’t done to protect people in the future, “we are going to find the technology racing ahead, and it’s going to be very difficult to catch up.” https://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/microsoft-president-brad-smith-george-orwell-1984-realy-2024-ai-china-artificial-intelligence-2451713
Let it be perfectly clear, governments WILL NOT take steps to actually prevent a coming totalitarian world.
Now, DuckDuckGo, which has financial ties with Microsoft, put in restrictions in the past few days (see Meta/Facebook defends change allowing for killing of Russians; DuckDuckGo reverses its non-discrimination policy).
Brad Smith’s 2024 date is interesting as back in 2017, we put out the following video that tied 1984 with 2024:
In 1949, the late George Orwell wrote a disturbing book about a totalitarian government called “nineteen-eighty four.” Despite laws that are supposed to protect freedom of speech and religion, we are seeing governments taking steps consistent with those that Geroge Orwell warned against. We are also seeing this in the media, academia, and in private companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. With the advent of technology, totalitarianism beyond what Orwell wrote is possible. Does the Bible teach the coming a totalitarian state similar to George Orwell’s? What about the Antichrist and 666? Will things get worse? What is the solution? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more. A written article of related interest is titled “Totalitarian controls getting closer–The Guardian pushing internet censorship.”
Here is a link to our video: Orwell’s 1984 by 2024?
With digital surveillance and electronic financial transactions, more and more governments are watching more and more. And in the case of the USA, Big Tech is surveilling and judging.
(Wikipedia)
In his book 1984, the society George Orwell also warned about had surveillance cameras all over and they recognized individual people. What is starting to happen now is actually more widespread than his book warned about. There will be even more surveillance than George Orwell anticipated.
The government had screens, like tv /computer monitors that could see people in 1984. Notice the following related to the current situation in Ukraine:
Ukraine Using Thiel-Backed Clearview AI Facial Recognition During Russia Invasion
March 14, 2022
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense on Saturday began using AI facial recognition technology from Peter Thiel-backed Clearview AI – which has been used for several years by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to collect photos on social media sites for inclusion into a massive facial recognition
The system is being provided free of charge, CEO Hoan Ton-That told Reuters, adding that they had not offered the technology to Russia. …
The software has raised privacy concerns in the United States, to the point where Sens. Jeff Merkley and Bernie Sanders attempted to block its use with a bill that would require Clearview and similar companies obtain consent before taking your biometric data.
In 2020, the ACLU sued Clearview AI, calling it a ‘nightmare scenario’ for privacy.
Clearview, which primarily sells to U.S. law enforcement, is fighting lawsuits in the United States accusing it of violating privacy rights by taking images from the web. Clearview contends its data gathering is similar to how Google search works. Still, several countries including the United Kingdom and Australia have deemed its practices illegal. -Reuters
“We’re going to see well-intentioned technology backfiring and harming the very people it’s supposed to help,” said Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project in New York, who added that the technology could misidentify people at checkpoints and in battle – which could potentially lead to civilian deaths. https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/ukraine-using-thiel-backed-clearview-ai-facial-recognition-during-russia-invasion
Like in 1984, the world is becoming more surveilled.
Many parts of the world, including the USA, are getting closer to totalitarian control. The past two years of COVID restrictions have shown the willingness of governments to impose fairly totalitarian controls.
Neither Matt Taibbi nor Brad Smith probably pay much attention to biblical prophecies, but more and more are coming to similar conclusions that some of us who do believe in Bible prophecy have. The idea of freedom of the press, as many have known it, is going away (cf. Amos 8:11-12).
Furthermore, it will not just be press restrictions, deadly persecution is prophesied (cf. Revelation 13:11-18).
The ONLY real hope is the return of Jesus and the good news of the coming Kingdom of God.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Orwell’s 1984 by 2024? In 1949, the late George Orwell wrote a disturbing book about a totalitarian government called “nineteen-eighty four.” Despite laws that are supposed to protect freedom of speech and religion, we are seeing governments taking steps consistent with those that George Orwell warned against. We are also seeing this in the media, academia, and in private companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. With the advent of technology, totalitarianism beyond what Orwell wrote is possible. Does the Bible teach the coming a totalitarian state similar to George Orwell’s? What about the Antichrist and 666? Will things get worse? What is the solution? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more in this video.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to four related sermons: The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Will Philadelphian Christians instruct many in the end times? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work. Here is a link to another: Preparing to Instruct Many.
Facial Recognition and Christian Persecution? Will facial recognition systems help the coming European Beast of the Sea (Revelation 13) power gain totalitarian control? Are steps being taken along those lines? Is Europe in the process of putting together a massive database to surveil all that they can? What about Prüm? Might USA be involved with this? Could this result in Christian persecution? Does any of this have to do with what George Orwell warned about in his 1949 book titled ‘1984’? What about the UK? What has Big Brother watch warned? What is facial recognition and how does it work? What are concerns that the ACLU and the Electronic Watch foundation have raised? Would the King of the North (666) of biblical prophecy (Daniel chapters 7,8,11) be expected to use this type of technology? What about his religious associate, the two-horned beast, also known as the final Antichrist? What did Jesus tell His followers to do when persecuted? What has to happen before totalitarian control occurs in Europe? Dr. Thiel addresses these questions and more in this video.
Internet Censorship and Prophecy Are concerns about internet censorship limited to nations such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. But what about the USA, Canada, and Germany? What about the European Union? What about internet media companies such as Facebook, Google, YouTube, or email services like MailChimp? Has the attempt to control information been made by various ones over the centuries? Was the New Testament affected by it? What about the church throughout the centuries? Has the Bible already been partially censored? Which Bible prophecies point to coming Internet censorship? What about the Book of Amos? What about the coming 666 Beast and final Antichrist? Is there anything that can be done about this? Should Philadelphian Christians be working on anything now? Will preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God vs. a highly media-supported alternative lead to a ‘famine of the word’? More internet censorship is coming as various statements in the Bible support.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Canadian censoring of the Bible In 2017, Lauri Skori of the Battle River School board told a religious school in Alberta, Canada that it could not teach/read certain portions of the Bible. In 2002, a court in Canada ruled against one who referred to certain scriptures that some homosexuals objected to. In 2017, there was “An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code” related to those who wish to be considered transgendered. Government officials in Canada and elsewhere have been ruling against the Bible. Is any of this prophesied? Will this get worse? What was the prophet Amos inspired to write? This is a video.
Internet Control, Famine of the Word, and 666 Is the internet going to be used to suppress the teaching of the word of God?
The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions Was the Church of Rome really responsible for this? What happened? Here is a link to a related video sermon: The Past and Future Inquisition.
Banning the Bible? Could we see a ban of the Holy Bible in North America? Have there been partial bans proposed and enforced by government officials in Canada? Do any USA politicians consider any biblical teachings as fraudulent and hence banning them is NOT a violation of the 1st amendment to the Constitution of the USA? Are there risks associated with AB 2943? Have politicians like Hillary Clinton and California Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi called for long-held religious beliefs to change and “evolve with the times”? What about Jude 1:3 and 2 Timothy 3:14? Are there biblical prophecies about not being able to hear the word of God? Might we see more restrictions on explaining teachings of the Bible on the Internet and other forms of media? What are some of the verses that various government people do not want made public? Dr. Thiel provides facts on these issues and more.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy as are two video sermonettes Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy and Ukraine in Prophecy?
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