It’s already here. The government is forbidden by the Constitution to create a police state, so it farms out that job to corporations in return for special favors. twatter, farcebook and goofgle willingly spy on citizens and suppress any thoughts that don’t conform to the official party line. The government pretends that it has nothing to do with it, but lies.
Banks spy on depositors. They are mandated by the government to provide information about accounts to the government. They are forced to know their customers and to report anything suspicious. The government then says they don’t surveil us, when in reality they do by proxy.
What next? social conformity scores like in China? Inability to open bank accounts or use credit cards or create websites based on conformity with government wishes? (Wait! that’s already here!)
Please don’t use the words “land of the free” or some such thing around me.
Three initials would end the entire Tech Barony....E M P