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[–] 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

Obviously, the White House does this because they're attention-hungry assholes. So simply reporting that they did something for attention is really just doing them a favor. And adding comments from random internet users observing how disgusting it is is a further waste of time.

Since we're on the topic, though, I want to call out an issue in a movie I otherwise liked quite a bit: the film normalizes extralegal AI-boosted total surveillance in a way that I think was thoughtless and extremely hazardous to our culture.

A decade ago, when Edward Snowden leaked evidence that the US was indiscriminately collecting information on the whereabouts and habits of Americans in obvious contradiction with our fifth amendment rights, there was at least some sense on the part of the government that they had to deny their guilt. But now, there is a normalization of the concept of a panopticon: a police state in which we all assume that our words, thoughts, movements, and associations are presumably known or at least knowable to some unaccountable watcher.

This is bad. I liked the movie, but its flippant embrace of the assumption that we are all observed at all times, and that this is the state of affairs we must acclimate ourselves to, undeserving of anger and simply beyond our ability to challenge if we wanted to is a very dangerous idea that we need to recognize and engage with.

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  • [–] 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    It is interesting because in the Nolan Batman films Batman creates a surveillance system, and he doesn't trust himself to use it and it causes his trusted ally Lucius Fox to threaten to quit. So it exists, it works, but we're meant to think it's bad.

    In Captain America Winter Soldier we have SHIELD. They, technically HYDRA, have created a system to spy on everyone but it's really only a problem when it is threatening to kill the "wrong" people.

    To a lesser extent I think Ultron also fits, although that's more about control than surveillance.

    I think this Spider-Man film could have benefited from having a villain get ahold of Spider-Man's system and he's forced to destroy it.

    It's possible they could still address this in future films, although it's unlikely.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Yeah.

    I think the defense of the movie is that his surveillance system isn't a thematic concern: it's not a part of the story, it's just a plot device to allow the movie to just hand him whatever information is convenient whenever they like. So the writers probably assume that their hands are clean because it's so flimsy and absent from the film that they might claim that they're making no statement.

    However that's frankly bullshit. Not making a statement on something awful is often the loudest statement you can make.

    Again, I liked the movie. But I feel this issue must be addressed.

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  • 22 comments in c/movies@piefed.social view that post
    [–] 114 points 3 months ago* (2 children)

    If Disney/Sony those not sue, that’s because they’re okay with it

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  • [–] 28 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    It's like Nintendo/Japan being unhappy with the white house using Pokemon and other anime. Ok, sue them. Nintendo will sue anyone that even moderately thinks about modding something of theirs so why aren't they suing?

    like you said, privately they're fine with it.

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  • [–] 85 points 3 months ago (3 children)
  • [–] 10 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    Since we basically "have" the Epstein files now, sth like this should be added: "...and what are you going to do about the unmistakable allegations against Trump himself?"

    And that unfortunately applies to most of what this admin does.

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  • [–] 10 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    We aren't anywhere close to having the Trump-Epstein mp4's and the paper documents are just fluff and still mostly hidden.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 months ago

    While there are still files being withheld, the meme would be better if it said "where are the charges from the Epstein Files." Because even if files are released, if there are no prosecutions of those who committed human trafficking then it is still just for show.

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  • [–] 22 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    oh no someone said something bad about them they will surely change their ways…

    …

    ..

    .

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  • [–] 21 points 3 months ago* (1 child)

    Just like they did with countless songs and probably other artwork before. They never ask. And use the "wrong" songs anyhow, songs that explicitely disagree with MAGA ideology. Which could be said about Spiderman too.

    Anyhow, I looked at the ad, it shows his hand and the webbing shooting from the wrist, and the spider-webbed queue of people at the end, with an ICE goon standing behind them. Obvious enough but stopping just short of outright plagiarism. Sony will have to have a good think if they really want to sue the government of the USA about that. Maybe they should sue in Japan, not in the USA.

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  • [–] 15 points 3 months ago*

    Unbelievable how these fuckers can keep doing that, without ever being held responsible. USA is so fucked up!

    Disney/Sony/Nintendo should already be suing their ass off. They either don't do it for fear of reprisal, or they're really okay with it while they don't think twice about fucking an individual life forever in order to 'protect their IP'.

    There's nothing right about anything about this bullshit. Both the administration and these private companies are dirtier than trash.

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  • [–] 27 points 3 months ago

    Just the usual subterfuge used to keep peoples mind off the Epstein files.

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  • [–] 8 points 3 months ago

    Crazy the skin color is getting lighter in these ice posters

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  • [–] 8 points 3 months ago

    Some future historian will have to work really hard to decide which ai slop to use to illustrate the use of visual propaganda by the Trump regime. There are so many good examples of images that better not existed, yet are somehow posted on official social media pages.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago*

    Trying to lure children with things they typically like is on brand for the Epstein administration.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 months ago (3 children)

    Perfect fit unfortunately as MCU Spider-man mentor was an Elon Musk adjacent weapons manufacturer and he uncritically uses surveillance state tech.

    -J Jonah Jacobin

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  • [–] 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

    Musk is Ironmonger. Not Iron Man. The Jeff Bridges villain in IM2

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  • [–] 2 points 3 months ago

    Sue them so hard.

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  • 1 comment in c/crimes_of_ice@lemmy.4d2.org view that post
    [–] 8 points 3 months ago

    Not my hecking Marvelrinos

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