In an hour-long Q&A during Oracle’s Financial Analyst Meeting, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, the world’s second-richest man laid out a vision for a world where constant surveillance becomes the norm. He suggested that “citizens will be on their best behavior because we’re constantly recording and reporting everything that is going on.”
Larry’s comments draw stark comparisons to China’s social credit system, which uses advanced facial recognition technology and a network of cameras to monitor its citizens’ behavior.
When Fortune reached out to Oracle for clarification, there was no response, leaving many to wonder about the implications of Ellison’s predictions. His vision hints at a world where both individuals and law enforcement are equally under the lens of surveillance.
“Every police officer is going to be supervised at all times, and if there’s a problem, AI will report that problem,” Ellison stated, as cited by TechCrunch.
While the idea of constant monitoring sounds futuristic, it’s already a reality in some ways. Americans frequently use their smartphones to record and share videos of their fellow citizens, often leading to viral confrontations and, in some cases, doxxing and online harassment campaigns. Public figures, like Elon Musk, have even faced legal battles over comments made on social media. Musk, for instance, is being sued by Jewish student Ben Brody for defamation after Musk falsely labeled him a neo-Nazi online.
Despite Ellison’s optimism about a fully monitored society, there are concerns about its effectiveness, especially when it comes to law enforcement. The conviction of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd, was largely due to bystander footage that captured the incident in broad daylight. This kind of footage played an important role in the case, but it raises the question: even when people know they’re being recorded, will it change their behavior?
Recent incidents suggest not always.
Miami-Dade officer Danny Torres was suspended after bodycam footage from his colleagues revealed he used excessive force while arresting NFL player Tyreek Hill. The police department later apologized, stating that Torres’s actions “clearly do not meet the standard we expect from law enforcement.”
