Guest Post by Scott Adams
I’m hearing a lot of chatter about President Trump potentially creating a “Muslim registry,” which, as it turns out, already exists. The current system only registers non-residents from certain countries. But how hard would it be for the government to figure out all of our religious beliefs – citizens and non-citizens alike — without asking?
My guess is that the government already uses Big Data to determine our religious beliefs and more. Consider all the information they have.
1. Your cell phone leaves a trail in the cloud of where you have been. If you have been to a Mosque, the government can know that.
2. Your banking and credit card records would tell the government if you buy any products associated with Islamic culture or beliefs. That could include food, clothing, and more.
3. The government can search all of your social media, text messages, and other digital communication for keywords and other clues about your beliefs.
4. The government knows who you associate with on social media and what websites you visit.
5. Census information.
6. Non-governmental forms you might have filled out with your religious preferences or ethnic background.
7. Health records might have clues too. For example, a hospital record might specify a halal diet.
I know the government doesn’t have explicit legal authority to snoop into all of the information sources I listed, but I’d be surprised if they aren’t doing it anyway in the name of national security. We wouldn’t know if they had backdoors into the major corporate networks. I assume they do.
So don’t worry too much about a Muslim “registry.” We’ve probably had one for years. And the rest of us are probably on lists of some sort too. So far, all it has done is reduce terror attacks (I presume).
I agree that society needs to keep an eye on this sort of “registry” to prevent abuse. It is frightening to even read the language about it. But once you see it in context, it probably isn’t much change from the current situation.
For anyone who reads both Pat Buchanan and Ann Barnhardt online, the government actually assigns a designated watcher. Mine’s parked across the street right now.
Separating the religions might be a good idea.
A “Muslim registry” is a fiction created by the MSM and Hillary campaign.
What Trump has called for is something quite different, and more likely to work.
Most people don’t understand that the Muslim religion isn’t really just a religion. It is a religion, social, and political structure all combined into one. Simply put, the Muslim structure is incompatible with Western society. Unfortunately, a lot of blood will be spilled again until that is understood by the majority yet again.
Jeebus. Does the government now know that I attend St. Mattress every morning because I just bought a Loom and Leaf memory foam mattress?
I think my lightsabre gives me away.
pathetic. Using your criteria the government probably would conclude I worship Mickey Mouse.