Google is Definitely Trying to Social Engineer You (And Make Sure You’re Being a Good Parent)

In a segment Tuesday evening, FOX News’ Tucker Carlson called emerging technology out of companies like Google a “terrifying illustration of the control these companies seek over our daily lives.”

There’s no way the rest of the segment lives up to that hype, right?

Au contraire, mon frere.

By examining patents that Google has recently applied for, Carlson comes up with some disturbing examples of ways in which the tech giant has definite plans to socially engineer behavior that include using internet-connected cameras to examine the contents of a bedside reading table to suggest films the occupant might enjoy, for example.

Some of the applied-for patents also suggest that Google smart home technology could be used to monitor the literal movements of occupants and deliver a verbal warning if children are — say — near a liquor cabinet or engaged in other kinds of mischief.

And it gets weirder from there.

In another example, Google envisions giving advice to parents on “areas of improvement,” such as spending more time together at dinner.

In response, Google said, “We file patent applications on a variety of ideas that our employees come up with. Some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don’t.”

Tucker’s response?

“In other words: don’t worry, we’re not spying on you … yet. We just have a patent for it.”

The idea that technocrats could gather enough information on any user via observations in their private residence — and then use those observations to suggest better parenting techniques — is disturbing enough. But it’s particularly disturbing when it’s Google doing the suggesting, a company whose track record on what constitutes ethical behavior is seriously in question.

Watch the rest of the segment here.

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