In June 2013, the PRISM program allowed the NSA to collect vast amounts of data from tech giants like Google and Facebook. Despite initial denials, whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the extent of mass surveillance. Legislative changes followed, but security expert Bruce Schneier warns that surveillance is still happening, with data collection becoming more detailed and pervasive.

Schneier highlights the dangers of bulk spying, warning that AI technology allows for mass surveillance on an unprecedented scale. Recent investigations have shown how mobile phone ad data can be used to track individuals in real time. The rise of surveillance capitalism poses a threat to privacy, with Schneier expressing concern over the potential misuse of AI by governments and companies.

The future of privacy may be at a tipping point, with increasing public awareness and outrage over mass surveillance. Schneier predicts a shift away from current intrusive practices, likening them to unethical business practices of the past. The trend towards privacy in both the crypto world and society at large may lead to significant changes in the way data is collected and used in the future.

Read more at cointelegraph.com: How Mass Surveillance Never Ended